In a groundbreaking development, researchers from Northwestern University have created an innovative electronic device that can continuously monitor the health of transplanted organs in real time. The device, an ultrathin, soft implant, is placed directly on a transplanted kidney and can detect temperature irregularities associated with inflammation and other body responses that indicate transplant rejection. This information is then wirelessly transmitted to a nearby smartphone or tablet, alerting the patient or physician to potential issues.
In a recent study, the researchers tested the device on a small animal model with transplanted kidneys. The results were promising: the device detected warning signs of rejection up to three weeks earlier than current monitoring methods. This early detection could provide physicians with crucial additional time to intervene, potentially improving patient outcomes and increasing the chances of preserving donated organs. This is particularly important given the current organ-shortage crisis and rising demand for transplants. The study is set to be published in the journal Science on September 8.
Transplant rejection can occur at any time after the procedure, and it often happens silently, without the patient experiencing symptoms. “Many of my patients live in constant anxiety, unsure if their body is rejecting their transplanted organ,” said Dr. Lorenzo Gallon, a Northwestern Medicine transplant nephrologist who led the clinical portion of the study. “This new device could offer some protection and continuous monitoring could provide reassurance and peace of mind.”
Northwestern’s John A. Rogers, a pioneer in bioelectronics who led the device development, emphasized the importance of identifying rejection events as soon as they occur. “Each individual responds differently to anti-rejection therapy,” said Surabhi Madhvapathy, a postdoctoral researcher in Rogers’ laboratory and the paper’s first author. “Real-time monitoring of the patient’s transplanted organ is a critical step toward personalized dosing and medicine.”
For more than 250,000 people in the U.S. living with a transplanted kidney, monitoring their organ’s health is a constant concern. Current methods for monitoring kidney health, such as measuring certain markers in the blood, are neither sensitive nor specific, leading to false negatives or positives. The “gold standard” for detecting rejection is a biopsy, but this invasive procedure carries multiple risks, including bleeding, infection, and inadvertent damage to nearby tissues.
Northwestern’s new bioelectronic implant monitors something much simpler and more reliable: temperature. Inflammation typically causes temperature increases, so the researchers hypothesized that sensing unusual temperature increases and variations could provide an early warning sign for potential transplant rejection. The animal study confirmed this hypothesis.
The device could also offer continuous, real-time monitoring. After transplant surgeries, patients may have frequent blood tests, but over time, these tests become less frequent, leaving patients in the dark for weeks at a time. The new device could alleviate this issue, providing patients with a more consistent understanding of their organ’s health.
Dr. Joaquin Brieva, a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist who received a kidney transplant in September 2022, understands the anxiety associated with waiting for test results. “Having this device would be reassuring,” he said.
This innovative application of electronics and computer technology in the field of medical devices has the potential to revolutionize organ transplant monitoring. The device’s programming language and coding allow it to provide real-time data, potentially saving lives and improving patient wellbeing. As such, it represents a significant advancement in the intersection of electronics and healthcare.
