A miniaturized implantable electrochemical platform for continuous monitoring of metabolites in deep tissue.

Abstract

The loss or suppression of local metabolic function in living tissues brought about by a lack of oxygen availability (ischemia) serves as the origin for myriad life-threatening conditions including stroke, heart failure, and peripheral ischemic injury. Despite the pressing clinical need to evaluate local tissue health, platforms that support such analysis remain elusive. To address this need, we present a wireless, minimally invasive, multianalyte, electrochemical probe supporting the continuous profiling of local metabolites including K⁺ and pH, and the semicontinuous profiling of lactic acid. We validate the analytical capabilities of our sensing system by ion profiling in arterial whole blood. Furthermore, we use acute compartment syndrome as a model for tissue ischemia and use our percutaneously implanted probes to track metabolic changes in living muscle in real time.