DETECT: Disposable Sensor for Continuous Detection of Renal Disease
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
Disease detection using non-invasive methods has gained significant attention as the non-invasive technology is user-friendly and suitable for developing home care diagnostics devices. Non-invasive detection is important especially for early-stage detection and monitoring of chronic diseases as chronic diseases are accountable for around 75% of deaths across the world as per the WHO report.
Among chronic diseases, the detection of chronic renal (kidney) disease is important as it has affected around 10 % of the population globally and millions of people die every year due to unaffordable treatment. In addition, recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 long-haulers are at significantly higher risk for getting end-stage renal disease. Therefore, early-stage renal disease detection is the most appropriate way to prevent it reaching to the severe stage.Presently, blood and urine sampling methods are used for renal disease detection. However, existing methods are laboratory dependent, need skilled technicians, non-user-friendly, time-consuming, and inconvenient for continuous monitoring. Therefore, there is need to come up with a suitable non-invasive detection method, which is user-friendly, fast, easily repeatable, more acceptable for patients and convenient for continuous monitoring. To serve the purpose, DETECT is explicitly aimed at fabricating a multi-functional antenna to develop a wireless ammonia sensor demonstrating reliable sensing performance for early-stage detection of renal disease. The multi-functional antenna or antenna sensor will serve the dual function as: (i) NFC tag for wireless communication; and (ii) analyte sensor for detection of target analyte i.e., ammonia. The antenna sensor would be developed using the biodegradable materials (e.g., PEDOT: PSS, graphene, carbon) on a disposable substrate (e.g., PDMS, PLA, Paper) to develop a high performance and eco-friendly ammonia sensing device suitable for continuous detection of renal disease.
Among chronic diseases, the detection of chronic renal (kidney) disease is important as it has affected around 10 % of the population globally and millions of people die every year due to unaffordable treatment. In addition, recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 long-haulers are at significantly higher risk for getting end-stage renal disease. Therefore, early-stage renal disease detection is the most appropriate way to prevent it reaching to the severe stage.Presently, blood and urine sampling methods are used for renal disease detection. However, existing methods are laboratory dependent, need skilled technicians, non-user-friendly, time-consuming, and inconvenient for continuous monitoring. Therefore, there is need to come up with a suitable non-invasive detection method, which is user-friendly, fast, easily repeatable, more acceptable for patients and convenient for continuous monitoring. To serve the purpose, DETECT is explicitly aimed at fabricating a multi-functional antenna to develop a wireless ammonia sensor demonstrating reliable sensing performance for early-stage detection of renal disease. The multi-functional antenna or antenna sensor will serve the dual function as: (i) NFC tag for wireless communication; and (ii) analyte sensor for detection of target analyte i.e., ammonia. The antenna sensor would be developed using the biodegradable materials (e.g., PEDOT: PSS, graphene, carbon) on a disposable substrate (e.g., PDMS, PLA, Paper) to develop a high performance and eco-friendly ammonia sensing device suitable for continuous detection of renal disease.
Publications
Beniwal A
(2023)
Room Temperature Operated PEDOT: PSS Based Flexible and Disposable NO 2 Gas Sensor
in IEEE Sensors Letters
| Description | The project is currently ongoing. Considering the work plan of the project the fellow (Dr. Ajay Beniwal) and the mentor (Prof. Chong Li) are working regressively to achieve the project objectives dedicated towards the healthcare sector. The efforts assigned to work packages are ongoing with a systematic plan as follows: • The selection of suitable disposable materials for substrate, electrodes and sensing layer has been done for developing the ammonia (NH3) sensor. The choice of the substrate material (e.g., paper) is based on the disposability aspect. The choice of ink (e.g., graphene-carbon ink) is based on its appropriateness for printing-based techniques. The choice of sensing material/s (e.g., PEDOT:PSS) is based on their biocompatibility and suitability for solution-based techniques. • The effect of humidity on the ammonia gas sensing properties is a persistent challenge in the gas sensor technology. Before investigating the ammonia gas sensing properties of the selected material, the in-situ doping based strategy was developed to mitigate/reduced the humidity interference effect on the ammonia sensing characteristics. Therefore, proposing an in-situ doping based facile and viable solution for mitigating the humidity interference is one of the significant achievements obtained within this project work. This is the primary step that would be moving forward to successfully achieve the award objectives in timely and efficient manner. • Meanwhile, the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sensing characteristics of the PEDOT:PSS are investigated for potential applicability in various application areas including healthcare application. The findings of this work are published as 'Room Temperature Operated PEDOT: PSS Based Flexible and Disposable NO2 Gas Sensor' in journal IEEE Sensors Letters. • Similarly, the temperature sensing properties of the PEDOT:PSS are also investigated and published as 'Disposable and Flexible PEDOT:PSS-Based Temperature Sensor for Healthcare Applications' as a conference paper in IEEE Applied Sensing Conference (APSCON) 2024. |
| Exploitation Route | The project is currently ongoing. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Electronics Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | • The proposed ammonia sensor seems to have potential applicability in the healthcare sector for continuous/real time monitoring of renal disease via breath ammonia detection. • Along with this, temperature and humidity sensing characteristics of the selected material (PEDOT:PSS) seems to have potential applicability in the healthcare sector for developing the smart bandage for wound healing temperature monitoring and breathing rate monitoring, respectively. |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Electronics,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Short-Term Research Visits to IIT-Ropar, India |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Ropar |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contributions made by fellow (Dr. Ajay Beniwal) and mentor (Prof. Chong Li) from University of Glasgow, UK: Expertise: Conceptualization of research idea, sensor fabrication and characterization. Equipment or facilities: Methodology design, fabrication of sensor and investigation. Data: Formal analysis and validation of results. Writing - original draft/manuscript. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions. Funding acquisition and overall supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Equipment or facilities: 'Four Probe Controlled Environment Chamber - Gas Sensing Facility' is provided by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Ropar, India. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions is also provided by our collaborator from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Ropar, India. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions is provided by our collaborator from London Metropolitan University, UK. |
| Impact | A journal publication has been generated based on this work: Ajay Beniwal, Priyanka Ganguly, Rahul Gond, Brajesh Rawat and Chong Li, "Room Temperature Operated PEDOT: PSS Based Flexible and Disposable NO2 Gas Sensor," IEEE Sensors Letters, vol. 7, no. 9, pp. 1-4, 2023. doi: 10.1109/LSENS.2023.3308518 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Short-Term Research Visits to IIT-Ropar, India |
| Organisation | London Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contributions made by fellow (Dr. Ajay Beniwal) and mentor (Prof. Chong Li) from University of Glasgow, UK: Expertise: Conceptualization of research idea, sensor fabrication and characterization. Equipment or facilities: Methodology design, fabrication of sensor and investigation. Data: Formal analysis and validation of results. Writing - original draft/manuscript. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions. Funding acquisition and overall supervision. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Equipment or facilities: 'Four Probe Controlled Environment Chamber - Gas Sensing Facility' is provided by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Ropar, India. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions is also provided by our collaborator from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Ropar, India. Intellectual input: Intellectual contribution based on scientific discussions is provided by our collaborator from London Metropolitan University, UK. |
| Impact | A journal publication has been generated based on this work: Ajay Beniwal, Priyanka Ganguly, Rahul Gond, Brajesh Rawat and Chong Li, "Room Temperature Operated PEDOT: PSS Based Flexible and Disposable NO2 Gas Sensor," IEEE Sensors Letters, vol. 7, no. 9, pp. 1-4, 2023. doi: 10.1109/LSENS.2023.3308518 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | A talk at IIT - Ropar, India on 'Smart Sensing Technologies for for Healthcare and Agricultural Applications' in April 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | • A talk on 'Smart Sensing Technologies for Healthcare and Agricultural Applications' was presented by the fellow Dr. Ajay Beniwal in April 2023 at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Ropar, India. • The event witnessed around 30 number of participants from different academic levels including undergraduate / postgraduate / research scholars / academicians. • The primary goal of this event was to bring together the researchers/academicians from various fields/disciplines to enhance their interest in the research areas related to 'Smart Sensing Technologies.' • The event consisted of presentation on 'Smart Sensing Technologies' using power point followed by sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Expert Panel Member in Conference ICAC3N 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | • The fellow Dr. Ajay Beniwal joined the International Conference on Advances in Computing, Communication Control and Networking (ICAC3N-23) as an expert panel member and speaker in December 2023. The event was organised by Galgotias College of Engineering, Greater Noida, India. • The event (expert panel discussion) witnessed around 200 number of participants from different academic levels including undergraduate / postgraduate / research scholars / academicians. • The primary goal of this event was to bring together top researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholars from around the world to share their latest research findings and experiences through featuring keynote speeches, technical sessions, and workshops, the conference covers a wide range of topics such as cloud computing, AI, wireless communication systems, IoT, and cybersecurity. • A talk on 'Smart Sensing Technologies for Healthcare and Agricultural Applications' was also presented by the fellow during this event using power point followed by sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://icac3n.in/speakers |
| Description | • A talk on 'International Funding Opportunities for Research' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | • A talk on 'International Funding Opportunities for Research' was presented by the fellow Dr. Ajay Beniwal in April 2023 at University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India. • The event witnessed around 80 number of participants from different academic levels including undergraduate / postgraduate / research scholars / academicians. • The main agenda of this event was to discuss and motivate the researchers/academicians from various fields/disciplines to generate their interest in the research field via applying for funding opportunities to go forth to serve the society. • Furthermore, to promulgate the ideas and objectives of the Marie Curie Fellowship (UKRI Funded) among the participants importance and role of UK Research and Innovation, Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council along with the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions was discussed by the fellow during the presentation. • UKRI, EPSRC and MSCA logos along with the project DETECT (EPSRCEU/DETECT/X027791/1) were kept in the acknowledgment section. • The event reported increased interest in applying for funding opportunities and fellowships in related/relevant research areas. The participants were really keen to learn more about there opportunities and were encouraged further by post-presentation discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=686711033459203&set=pb.100063609372037.-2207520000&locale=en_GB |