Continuous monitoring of blood–interstitial fluid intercompartmental molecular kinetics in freely moving animals

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Authors: Yihang Chen, Qitao Hu, Jean Won Kwak, David Zakharian, Jenny Ji, Du Liu, Deepak Gopalan, Caoimhe Lyons, Max Yates, Steven Yee, Han Cui, Michael Eisenstein
+1 more Hyongsok Tom Soh
Cited by: 3
References: 42

Abstract

Accurate health monitoring depends on continuous assessment of biochemical markers across multiple body compartments. While blood remains the clinical gold standard, interstitial fluid (ISF) presents a minimally invasive alternative that reflects local tissue physiology, although its biomarker kinetics often differ from blood. It is currently impossible to achieve simultaneous, continuous monitoring of both compartments, limiting insight into their dynamic relationship. To address this, we present BICEP (blood-ISF continuous-sensing electrochemical probe), a wireless electrochemical platform for continuous dual-compartment monitoring of analytes in blood and ISF. The BICEP system incorporates microfabricated soft sensors with biofouling-resistant aptamer interfaces, paired with a wearable potentiostat for remote configuration and readout. Using this system, we continuously tracked kanamycin signal in both anesthetized and freely moving rats, revealing distinct kinetic profiles and individualized temporal delays between blood and ISF signals. These findings confirm that ISF is not merely a proxy for blood but exhibits unique molecular kinetics influenced by individual variability and physiological state. This platform advances personalized health monitoring by providing integrated, dynamic correlation of blood and ISF biomarkers, deepening understanding of their physiological interplay under real-life conditions and paving the way for broader use of wearable ISF-based biosensors.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques Electrochemical sensors and biosensors

Publication details

Journal / source
Science Advances
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
12
Issue
21
Pages
eaed1895–eaed1895
Publication date
20 May 2026
Language
EN