The challenges in developing implantable biosensors

Implantable medical technology sensors are revolutionizing how we monitor and treat different conditions. Recent developments in theory have enabled the fabrication of more accurate, reliable, and versatile sensors, although these improvements have yet to make it to clinical products. To bridge this gap, Yogev et al. discussed the challenges of producing enhanced implantable sensors.

The authors found four primary types of challenges for enhancing the sensors. There are engineering problems such as improving the selectivity and sensitivity of the sensors while keeping them biocompatible, regulatory hurdles due to the lack of appropriate protocols for such technology, challenges in performing clinical trials due to limited availability and high cost of the equipment, and patient-related obstacles such as lack of knowledge regarding sensors leading to fear and anxiety as well as privacy concerns.

“Our main goal is to try and to overcome these challenges,” said author Ben Maoz. “We want to bring this technology to clinical trials soon.”

Current implantable sensors are used in patients with medical conditions. For example, insulin monitors help patients with diabetes, and auditory implants can sense sound for deaf or hard of hearing patients. With improvements, these sensors could monitor patients’ bodies proactively to detect and treat disease threats.

“Imagine you have an infection, and an implantable sensor detects it before you have any symptoms,” said Maoz. “It will release the relevant antibiotics to fight the infection.”

With this technology, patients might even beat the disease before being symptomatic, while avoiding trips to the doctor.

Advanced implants could also detect irregular cardiac rhythms, track oxygen levels to manage chronic respiratory conditions, and control deep brain simulation to fight Parkinson’s disease.

Source: “Current state of the art and future directions for implantable sensors in medical technology: Clinical needs and engineering challenges,” by David Yogev, Tomer Goldberg, Amir Arami, Shai Tejman-Yarden, Thomas E. Winkler, and Ben M. Maoz, APL Bioengineering (2023). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0152290 .

This paper is part of the Implantable Bioelectronics Collection, learn more here .