Objective
Our main objective is to develop a blood test for c-peptide that can be performed at the time and place of patient care for the assessment of the pre-symptomatic period of type 1 diabetes. We also want to provide an easy and reliable c-peptide assessment with a significant reduction in time compared to conventional standards in clinical practice.
Background Rationale
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires careful management, particularly during the early stages of the disease. It is crucial to understand the pre-symptomatic period of T1D as this plays a significant role in the progression of the disease. Therefore, monitoring pancreatic beta cell loss in individuals with presymptomatic T1D is essential because the loss of beta cells starts earlier than the onset of the disease. C-peptide is an important polypeptide that serves as a biomarker for assessing beta cell function. Therefore, accurate measurement of C-peptide levels can help in understanding pancreatic function. It has several advantages over other relevant biomarkers such as insulin because it can stay in the bloodstream longer and circulate at a constant rate. This makes c-peptide strategically important as it provides a broader and stable window for direct and accurate measurements. There are strategically key areas of research and innovation to transform diabetes care and improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. There have been tremendous efforts to develop technologies for diabetes care and one of the most important branches is the prevention of the diseases even before it progresses. Therefore, this project aims to develop an electrochemical immunosensor as a promising tool for point of care monitoring of c-peptide levels in blood.
Description of Project
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that causes high levels of glucose in your blood, and it occurs due to a lack of enough insulin production. The exact causes of type 1 diabetes are not known and there is nothing you can do to prevent yourself or others from developing this condition. However, it can be diagnosed at an early age, and this plays a crucial role in disease management. On the other hand, there are important areas of research and innovation to transform diabetes care that mainly focus on developing advanced technologies such as the prevention of the disease even before it progresses.
This project aims to develop an electrochemical immunosensor as a promising tool for point of care monitoring of c-peptide levels in blood. This will have a significant effect on type 1 diabetes management as the proposed sensor aims to provide an easy and reliable assessment of c-peptide levels in blood samples. It can also be performed at the point of care which can significantly improve the patient experience as well as the professional practice. In addition, the sensor can provide essential information about T1D progression with a significant reduction in time compared to gold standards (from hours to minutes).
This proposal addresses three main issues associated with c-peptide assessment. First, a reliable, easy, and quick response electrochemical sensor strategy will be developed which can potentially replace routine lab tests. Next, a point of care test system will be implemented to remove the lab-dependency of the assessment providing flexibility in use like it is used for glucose measurements. It will open opportunities for developing a multicomponent sensor including glucose and insulin.
Finally, due to fewer logistics and infrastructure involved in the test, more data can be obtained providing essential information about T1D progression. As a result, the proposed research can help clinicians and patients while increasing access to underserved populations.
Anticipated Outcome
This project will develop a novel and accessible technology for c-peptide at the point of care which will have a revolutionary effect on the assessment of type 1 diabetes. It will also open opportunities for developing multicomponent sensors including glucose and insulin for enhanced treatment. As a result, it can help clinicians and patients while increasing access to underserved populations.
Relevance to T1D
The developed sensor will provide an easy and reliable assessment of c-peptide levels in blood, and it can be performed at the point of care which can significantly improve the patient experience as well as the professional practice. The sensor may also provide essential information about type 1 diabetes progression with a significant reduction in time compared to gold standards (from hours to minutes).