Elliot Botvinick, Ph.D.

Professor, Biomedical Engineering

University of California, Irvine

Speech Title:

Transcutaneous multi-biomarker sensing on a single flexible fiber

Abstract:

The laboratory of Elliot Botvinick at the University of California, Irvine is developing a technology for the measurement of multiple physiological biomarkers by a single hair-thin transcutaneous flexible fiber that houses a linear array of optrodes. This technology relies on chemistry and photonics for specificity and sensitivity across pathophysiological ranges of biomarker concentration. The presentation will discuss the foundational technology of each optrode, medical applications, and current thrusts to add new target biomarkers. Examples include the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate and insulin for diabetes management, as wells as pH, which in combination with our current lactate monitoring optrode can stratify conditions such as metabolic and respiratory acidosis. To date, optrodes for oxygen, glucose, and lactate are developed on a single probe with clinical studies of exercise in type 1 diabetes underway. Future plans are to develop a multitude of probe embodiments, each targeting a medical condition.

Bio:

Prof. Elliot Botvinick’s research focuses on biophotonics in mechanobiology and medical device development. For example, his research group uses optical tweezers to study how cells react to, and remodel local tissue stiffness as is relevant to cancer, tissue morphogenesis, and wound healing. Relevant to this proposal, he has developed a sensing platform specifically designed for simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes. He also has developed embodiments for diabetes management and trauma, particularly as related to providing additional signals for guidance of treatment during critical conditions such as hemorrhagic shock, sepsis, and pulmonary injury. For example, he developed a transcutaneous continuous multi-analyte sensing platform based on a hair-thin biocompatible flex-circuit, LED multiplexing, a new method of enzyme immobilization, and a wearable detection system to simultaneously measure glucose, lactate and pH, where lactate in combination pH can stratify hyperlactatemia, respiratory alkalosis with hyperlactatemia, extreme metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis. A lactate sensing embodiment of this device is in clinical study in Australia and UC Irvine, with studies using a glucose and lactate sensing embodiment soon to be initiated in Canada. His research group is currently advancing this technology to include detection of insulin (in collaboration with MPI Weiss) and ketones. Another device developed by his group is a hand-held diagnostic tool for ear infection, which is in clinical study in children, and has been spun-out to Cactus Medical, Inc, which he co-founded and has received support from NIH, NSF, FDA, and the state of California. Lastly, Prof. Botvinick is developing a new tissue-integrated insulin infusion set with a large animal (porcine) PK-PD study recently completed.