People who need a lung transplant may be able to feel more optimistic about their outcomes thanks to work by University of Waterloo researchers and doctors with Toronto’s University Health Network. The two teams collaborated in developing a device called MetaboSense to assess the viability of donated lungs. While patients wait for a transplant, up to 80 per cent of donated lungs are rejected by doctors due to functional assessments. The test is done by monitoring glucose and lactate levels within a solution used to provide nutrients to the organs while they are kept in a machine. “We as a transplant community really strive to find ways to better understand lung function prior to surgery so that we can better access the organs and then, ultimately, identify those that are going to lead to good post-operative outcomes,” Andrew Sage, University Healthy Network assistant scientist, said. Typically, the assessment involves an hourly manual blood draw and laboratory testing. But MetaboSense would eliminate the need for that process by producing results in 60 seconds and providing continuous monitoring over time, to give a more dynamic overview of the lung’s function. “This is a device, a microfluidic device, with tiny channels that can manipulate the fluid and be adapted for measuring of different molecules from small metabolites to proteins,” Mahla Poudineh, a University of Waterloo professor of electrical and computer engineering, explained. A healthy lung consumes glucose and expels lactate. MetobSense measures fluctuations to ensure the organs are working properly. “It tells us how the cells are responding. And we can do that now before surgery,” Sage said. “With a sensor like this, we can get that data in real time. So, it’s a lot like a speedometer on a car – you’re getting real-time feedback about that function.” Other uses MetaboSense is also being used in diabetes monitoring. “This platform is adaptable to different body fluids and also different molecules,” Poudineh said. “We adapt the system for measuring of the diabetes hormones in blood.” The team is now waiting for approval to begin human clinic trials.
