Chinese scientists have developed a miniature device that is wireless and dynamically tracks oxygen levels in the deep brain, providing a promising tool for brain disease monitoring.
The implantable probe, about 300 microns in diameter, comprised a light-emitting diode and a photo detector.
It is coated with a phosphorescent film highly sensitive to oxygen, according to the findings published in the journal Nature Photonics on Friday.
The probe works by emitting phosphorescence and measuring the oxygen levels according to the light brightness, which would decrease with the rise of the oxygen partial pressure.
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“A key indicator reflecting brain oxygen levels”, said Sheng Xing, one of the paper’s corresponding authors and an associate professor at Tsinghua University.
Sheng Xing further stated that “When a hypoxia in brain tissue happens, the probe would emit a strong light, noting that its response time is only less than one second”.
He added that the wireless probe has been confirmed efficient after continuously monitoring the oxygen partial pressure in the deep brain of freely moving rodents, like mice.
“It could capture their cerebral hypoxia state in various scenarios, including an acute ischaemia”, Xing added
Sheng said the findings were expected to serve as a promising health care tool for patients with epilepsy, brain tumours, stroke and intracranial trauma in the future.
The study was conducted by researchers from Tsinghua University in collaboration with other Chinese research institutions.
It included the Xuanwu Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University and the Beijing Institute of Technology.
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