THE SCIENCE
​The basic design, materials and medical sciences behind Septitect.
MEDICAL SCIENCES
Monitoring Biomarkers
SeptiTect nanosensor tattoos will detect the onset of sepsis in chemotherapy cancer-patients by screening for changes in multiple sepsis-specific biomarkers. Such biomarkers include blood acidity, C-reactive proteins, white blood cell numbers, procalcitonin, and the presence of lactate. In cases of the development of sepsis, septicaemia, the pH of the blood will be expected to drop, becoming more acidic, while the inflammatory C-reactive proteins will rise in numbers. In the case of white blood cells, these will typically be low in chemotherapy cancer-patients, though with the onset of sepsis, a change with a slight increase in number of white blood cells can be expected nevertheless. Lactate, which is usually not detectable in serum, will become detectable, therefore being a clear marker of sepsis development. Unlike the other biomarkers, procalcitonin can help determine whether the development of sepsis originates from a bacterial infection, and distinguish the condition from other inflammatory diseases.
​
Upon detecting changes in these biomarkers, the nanosensors will change the biological actions of the body into a measurable signal that will then be transmitted to a smartphone to allow for medical support to be contacted.
​
Immunosuppressive nature
Due to the damage the immune system sustains from chemotherapy, there will be a decreased risk of rejection of the nanoparticles in cancer patients undergoing treatment compared to in a healthy individual. This is because white blood cells which would usually recognise the implants as foreign and attack proliferate rapidly and so are destroyed by the drugs used. Additionally, the graphene-derived materials used to produce the sensors make them as biocompatible as possible.
PHYSICS
These smart tattoos are an integrated system of microspheres and nanosensors implanted within the arm which fluoresce in the presence of high or low concentrations of a predetermined material. The majority of these sensors will be designed from graphene derivatives such as graphene oxide, which is naturally biodegradable and utilised in such low quantities it poses no further health complications to our patients.
In order to prevent an immune response rejecting the device once placed within the subcutaneous layer of the skin, the entire system is encased in an antibiofouling material like hydrogel or PGE with embedded antimicrobial nanoparticles like gold or carbon nanotubes. This further prevents the build-up of a biofilm, which over time would prevent detection and lead to product breakdown.
​
How will it work?
Engineered biosensors encased in nanomaterial scaffolding like graphene are intertwined in a system of microspheres and implanted in a specific pattern to allow for interaction and output. These will be applied via a modified tattoo gun to place each nanoparticle individually. Once implanted, the sensors will bind reversibly to a predetermined particle or simply measure aspects the surrounding interstitial fluid such as pH to enable continuous monitoring of the patient. These nanoparticles can be fluoresce with different intensities based on the extremity of the rise or fall in these factors and in emergent situations will send alerts to a blue-toothed device app to distribute the information automatically to named contacts or emergency services dependent on the patient's need.
