This microscope can monitor fluorescent biomarkers inside the skin. (Ozcan Research Group/UCLA)

UCLA researchers working with a team at Verily Life Sciences have designed a mobile microscope that can detect and monitor fluorescent biomarkers inside the skin with a high level of sensitivity, an important tool in tracking various biochemical reactions for medical diagnostics and therapy.

This new system weighs less than a one-tenth of a pound, making it small and light enough for a person to wear around their bicep. In the future, technology like this could be used for continuous patient monitoring at home or at point-of-care settings.

Fluorescent biomarkers are routinely used for cancer detection and drug delivery and release among other medical therapies. Recently, biocompatible fluorescent dyes have emerged, creating new opportunities for noninvasive sensing and measuring of biomarkers through the skin. However, detecting artificially added fluorescent objects under the skin is challenging. With this system, tiny biosensors can be placed inside the skin next to each other. Potential misalignments of the wearable imager can be determined and corrected to continuously quantify a panel of biomarkers.

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