Development of an electrochemical sensor for measuring haemolysis products in urine
File(s)
Author(s)
Griffiths, Owen
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Haemolysis is often seen in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and recent literature has
demonstrated an inverse association between high levels of haemolysis and positive post-operative
outcomes. Therefore, sensitive methods for the early detection of haemolysis may allow for rapid
clinical intervention to limit or prevent adverse outcomes in these patients. However, current
methods for the detection of haemolysis are laborious, slow, and expensive to the extent that they
are not routinely undertaken in clinical practice. This thesis describes the development of a low-cost,
rapid, and sensitive haemolysis sensor for point-of-care (PoC) detection. The sensor measures cell free
haemoglobin (cfHb) in urine which is released from red blood cells (RBCs) during haemolysis and is an
accepted biomarker for haemolysis.
Chapter one of this thesis introduces the key concepts related to the project and provides background
information for the thesis. The second chapter describes the materials and methods that were used
to carry out the research. The third chapter characterises the screen-printed electrodes that were
manufactured for the development of the sensor. The fourth chapter evaluates the sensor’s capacity
to detect cfHb and compares the performance of four sensor variants that were developed. The fifth
chapter presents the results from the clinical studies that were used to evaluate the application of the
sensor as a haemolysis diagnostic device. The sixth chapter provides a summary of the project and
discusses future commercialisation opportunities as well as future research and development
possibilities.
The original contributions to science are as follows:
• The development of a low-cost, rapid, and non-invasive sensor for the detection of haemolysis
that can be used at the patient’s bedside or similar PoC.
• A highly scalable, low-cost, and reproducible sensor manufacturing process was developed
that can be applied to a variety of other sensors.
• A study demonstrating the sensor’s application with clinical urine samples which shows the
device can be used to diagnose haemolysis caused by surgery.
demonstrated an inverse association between high levels of haemolysis and positive post-operative
outcomes. Therefore, sensitive methods for the early detection of haemolysis may allow for rapid
clinical intervention to limit or prevent adverse outcomes in these patients. However, current
methods for the detection of haemolysis are laborious, slow, and expensive to the extent that they
are not routinely undertaken in clinical practice. This thesis describes the development of a low-cost,
rapid, and sensitive haemolysis sensor for point-of-care (PoC) detection. The sensor measures cell free
haemoglobin (cfHb) in urine which is released from red blood cells (RBCs) during haemolysis and is an
accepted biomarker for haemolysis.
Chapter one of this thesis introduces the key concepts related to the project and provides background
information for the thesis. The second chapter describes the materials and methods that were used
to carry out the research. The third chapter characterises the screen-printed electrodes that were
manufactured for the development of the sensor. The fourth chapter evaluates the sensor’s capacity
to detect cfHb and compares the performance of four sensor variants that were developed. The fifth
chapter presents the results from the clinical studies that were used to evaluate the application of the
sensor as a haemolysis diagnostic device. The sixth chapter provides a summary of the project and
discusses future commercialisation opportunities as well as future research and development
possibilities.
The original contributions to science are as follows:
• The development of a low-cost, rapid, and non-invasive sensor for the detection of haemolysis
that can be used at the patient’s bedside or similar PoC.
• A highly scalable, low-cost, and reproducible sensor manufacturing process was developed
that can be applied to a variety of other sensors.
• A study demonstrating the sensor’s application with clinical urine samples which shows the
device can be used to diagnose haemolysis caused by surgery.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-08
Date Awarded
2023-12
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike Licence
Advisor
Spivey, Alan
Cass, Anthony
Quinlan, Gregory
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Grant Number
EP/S023518/1
Publisher Department
Chemistry
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)