101-LB: Real-Time Monitoring of Cholesterol Levels Using a Microfluidic Device

The lack of point-of-care (POC) devices that continuously monitor health is an unmet need. The challenge is not just to create POC devices, but to also go beyond the single time point or discrete measurements. For instance, in a critical in-patient setting, the need to monitor patients’ biochemical signals is important; discrete POC devices are not effective and increase clinical burden. For example, continuous glucose monitors have made it easier for patients to track glucose levels, there are currently no other similar devices either in POC or in an in-patient setting. We had previously reported results in which we carried out, in real-time, continuous measurement of albumin from hepatocytes as a marker of liver function. These measurements were carried out at high sensitivity (∼fg) and temporal resolution (<20s) (10.1007/s10544-017-0244-6). In this abstract, we now report novel POC devices that utilize smart chemistry to carry out continuous, real-time measurement of cholesterol using a tiny sample volume (∼1ul) and achieving detection limit surpassing the conventional assays. The response of hepatocytes to simvastatin was accurately measured by the device, again in real-time. Since the devices are easily customizable, by simply changing the enzymes used in the reactions, we can measure glucose, lactate, and urea. These devices can be groundbreaking in personalized tracking of metabolic health in a POC setting as well as for in-patient situation to assess treatments of ongoing interventions without increasing clinical burden.