Quantitative measurements of chronic pain
2023 IPRC Catalyst Grant
Existing clinical assessments do not offer sufficient quantitative measurement of chronic pain or underlying disease pathophysiology. Investigating physiological biomarkers’ association with pain is urgently needed. One potential solution is to detect biomarkers using biosensors.
This project aims to develop nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors for quantitative, precise, real-time monitoring of glutamate levels, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and others (to be determined) in biofluids, including blood, saliva and urine and to test the sensors in human subjects. Biomarkers like glutamate and IL-6 levels are positively correlated with pain sensitization. Thus detecting such biomarker levels in biofluids including blood and saliva may provide an objective measure for sensitizing response due to pain, and can further expand the application of this sensor system to diagnose other diseases. This project requires an interdisciplinary approach for real-time monitoring of chronic disease biomarkers for quantitative measurements of pain.
The team will leverage their research expertise in electrochemical sensors (Engineering), nanomaterials synthesis (Science) and chronic pain (Health Sciences) to develop the systems for the objective measurement of chronic pain, to assess chronic disease progression and efficacy of the defined treatment. This could lead to at-home patient monitoring, leading to greater independence, facilitating improved quality of life, and reducing socioeconomic burden.
