Ultrasensitive home blood electrolyte sensor
Ultrasensitive Ion-Selective Optodes for Self-Testing of Blood Electrolytes
This project will create tiny, low-blood-volume color-changing sensors so people with kidney, heart, or hormonal conditions can check electrolyte levels at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262203 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a fingerprick and a tiny color-changing strip — the team is building an ultrasensitive ion-selective optode that can read electrolytes like calcium from just a few microliters of whole blood. The sensor uses a viscous sensing oil with chemicals that bind specific ions and change color, and parts are planned to be 3D printed to keep costs low. Researchers will refine the device in the lab and test it on small blood samples to improve accuracy and ease of use. The aim is a cheap, easy-to-use home test that works more like a glucose strip than a large hospital analyzer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who need regular electrolyte checks, such as those with chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, hypoparathyroidism, or vasopressin-related disorders.
Not a fit: People without electrolyte concerns, those requiring continuous intensive monitoring, or patients in acute hospital settings needing high-precision lab tests may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people monitor electrolytes at home with a quick fingerprick, helping manage conditions like heart failure, kidney disease, or hormonal disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Home glucose meters transformed diabetes care, but quantitative home electrolyte testing is largely novel and prior work has produced only early-stage prototypes.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xuewei — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xuewei
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.