Development of Sensors and Optical Filters Towards Detecting Tissue Damage During Organ Transplants

Abstract

Detection of tissue damage and monitoring organ health is very crucial during organ transplants and surgeries. Till date there is no report on a single device that can detect oxygen and pH levels simultaneously. Monitoring such biomarkers can accurately indicate the health of the organ during transplants. This paper focuses on the development of a single sensor device that can reversibly and simultaneously respond to changes in pH and oxygen levels. The proposed optical sensor integrates both pH - and oxygen-sensitive probes, and is optimized to achieve minimal cross-sensitivity during simultaneous measurements. The paper also initiates the development of optical filters that can segregate the fluorescence associated with oxygen and pH changes. The two distinct fluorescence signals can then be detected and processed to accurately predict organ health. This advancement would enable accurate detection of chemical correlates of organ or tissue damage, thereby improving efficacy and monitoring during organ transplants.