Overview
- Researchers reporting in ACS Sensors developed oral microspheres that encapsulate engineered heme-sensing bacteria together with magnetic particles.
- In mouse colitis models, the sensors detected gastrointestinal bleeding within minutes and produced luminescence that increased with disease stage.
- The sodium alginate hydrogel protected the bacteria in digestive fluids while allowing heme to reach the sensor.
- After excretion, the microspheres were retrieved from stool with a magnet, and cleanup plus signal analysis took about 25 minutes.
- Assessments in healthy mice indicated biocompatibility, and the team says human testing is still needed with potential to expand to additional gut biomarkers.