Degradable Osteosensor: Novel Degradable CNT-based Impedimetric Biosensors for Bone Marker Detection

Monitoring bone resorption is critical to diagnosing and treating bone-degrading diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, and 24 million Americans suffer from low bone mass. Current systems being used to detect bone resorption biomarkers that reflect changes in bone metabolism resulting from abnormal conditions include chromatography with mass spectroscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA); although sensitive, these techniques are time-consuming, expensive, and require skilled personnel and bulky instruments, restricting their use to hospitals and clinics exclusively. A highly desirable component of orthopedic implants is a biodegradable, in vivo monitoring system for bone markers that can monitor the progress of bone regeneration. Until now, such a system has not existed.

Description

A novel, degradable, carbon nanotube-based bone marker sensor has been developed. Using carbon nanotubes as the conducting matrix and as a platform for functionalizing the biomolecules needed to detect bone markers, Osteosense is able to detect both C-terminal telopeptide, a marker released into urine during bone resorption, along with Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAcP), another bone marker generated during the resorption process that also serves to degrade the CNT sensor after fulfilling sensing requirements. The sensor is highly sensitive and capable of detecting telopeptide concentrations ranging from 0.1 ng/mL to 0.6 ng/mL, and is easily scalable, easy to fabricate, and durable. Furthermore, OsteoSense can be inserted during a five minute procedure and is operable from home, representing a groundbreaking new option for monitoring the state of bone during remodeling and regeneration.

Applications

· Monitoring bone resorption, remodeling, and regeneration
· Assessing the current state for bone for diagnosing and treating bone-degrading diseases like arthritis, osteoporosis, and some cancers

Advantages

· Biodegradable
· Scalable
· Easy to make
· Selective and specific sensing
· Reusable & durable
· Safe to use—only byproduct is carbonic acid

Invention Readiness

Prototype

IP Status

https://patents.google.com/patent/US9753030B2

Related Publication(s)

Ramanathan, M., Patil, M., Epur, R., Yun, Y., Shanov, V., Schulz, M., Heineman, W. R., Datta, M. K., & Kumta, P. N. (2016). Gold-coated carbon nanotube electrode arrays: Immunosensors for impedimetric detection of bone biomarkers. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 77, 580–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2015.10.014