CKD is a very severe and prevalent disease, affecting 1 in 8 Canadian adults. Given the absence of tools available for frequent monitoring of CKD metabolites, and the correlation between this and rates of cardiovascular disease in CKD patients, team Queen’s Canada aims to bridge the gap between patients and clinical practice in providing patients a tool for frequent monitoring of their CKD status. We designed an accessible and portable transdermal biosensor measure levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphate, potassium, glucose, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) at physiologically relevant concentrations, and frequently, to provide patients with the best possible health outcomes. The objective of Velcrion was to have the ability to excite the fluorescent protein in an antibody solution bound to the metabolite of interest, collected through a patient’s interstitial fluid (ISF), to measure the amount of metabolite based on a concentration vs fluorescence relationship. The results would be communicated to an accompanying app, which could collect additional critical and trackable health factors. The patient’s data could then be communicated to their healthcare provider for a holistic and patient-centered approach to care.

To learn more about how our prototype works, check out our fluorometer process!