Biosensor detects signs of traumatic brain injury

In a study published in Small, the researchers said their waterproof biosensor includes an “unprecedented combination of features” that may allow it to detect changes in the concentrations of various chemicals in the body and send the results to researchers in real time.

The chip is said to be flexible and thinner than a human hair, making it minimally invasive for use in the brain.

In a statement, study co-author Jinghua Li, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Ohio State said: “We have a long way to go from our tests in the lab, but these findings were very encouraging.”

The biosensor could have many potential uses, but Li and her co-authors were particularly focused on how it could be used to monitor patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

After TBI, secondary damage can occur that can be detected by changes in sodium and potassium ion concentrations in the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid, said Li, who is a member of Ohio State’s Chronic Brain Injury (CBI) Program.