Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
1553 The University of Texas at Arlington (143441)
Principal Investigator: Justyn Jaworski,justyn.jaworski@uta.edu,(817) 272-6778
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 261,838
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 5/1/23 - 4/30/24
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Department of Bioengineering
Department, Center, School, or Institute: none
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: A Novel Spray-On Sensing Platform Technology that Enables Wearable Visual Monitoring of Physiological Data and Environmental Exposure
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
CFDA Link: HHS
93.285
Program Title:
NIH R01
CFDA Linked: National Institutes of Health Pediatric Research Loan Repayment Program
Note:
(SAM Category 1.1.1.) A drawback of many health-monitoring systems is the low rate of voluntary usage due to user perspectives and concerns, such as privacy. Development of a technology that addresses these issues by being unobtrusive and wearable can increase acceptance of the technology by the user and in turn have a major impact in improving health monitoring. In this project, we will develop and test a spray-on sensor technology for monitoring exposure to environmental health risks as well as physiological data, with our initial proof-of-concept including UV radiation dosimetry, sweat analysis of lead (Pb) poisoning, and breath analysis of ketosis. Because this spray-on sensing approach allows materials including fabric, ceramic, plastic, and metal surfaces to be coated, everyday objects can become wearable monitoring systems, allowing users to go about their day with the monitor remaining un-noticeable to others. Since harm from environmental exposures depends on the amount of exposure and how long a person was exposed, this passive monitoring approach to obtain a representative look at cumulative exposures over a period of time may provide better information than infrequent testing. Our central hypothesis motivating this research is that diacetylene-containing amphiphiles applied to the skin by a spray-on approach (or spray-coated items in contact with the skin) can function as physicochemical sensors without dermal irritation/corrosion while having high mechanical resilience. Testing this hypothesis is an important step toward a modular platform of spray-on polydiacetylene sensing technologies capable of monitoring environmental exposures and physiological data. Our extensive preliminary work provides a strong foundation for this project wherein we have demonstrated the first spray-on polydiacetylene formulations to facilitate specific detection of exposure to a range of physical and chemical stimuli. In brief, custom diacetylene-containing amphiphiles dissolved in ethanol can undergo spray coating onto a surface whereupon hydrogen bond stabilization, hydrophobic interactions, and their liquid crystal like properties facilitate their assembly. Environmental exposure to UV light results in a dose-dependent 1,4-addition polymerization of diacetylene in assembled amphiphiles that provides an observable colorless to blue transition. Depending on the tailored head-group, a blue to red color transition occurs upon exposure to specific target compounds by binding-induced rotation of the conjugated diacetylene backbone. This visual color change of the monitoring system can convey health information regarding acute chemical exposure risk or assessment of cumulative toxicant exposure by sweat analysis and thus enhance user self-awareness of their condition or alert them of physiological changes or environmental risks.
Discussion: No discussion notes