Innovative Lab-on-a-Chip Technology Enables At-Home Testing for Stress and Heart Conditions

Recent advancements in medical technology have led to the development of lab-on-a-chip devices that allow patients to conduct home tests for stress and cardiac health. Engineers from the University of Cincinnati have designed a portable device capable of measuring cortisol levels--a hormone associated with stress--from saliva samples. This innovation aims to enhance the diagnosis of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, which currently affect over 400 million individuals globally.

The lab-on-a-chip system features a disposable collection device that patients place in their mouths, which is then inserted into a reader. This reader transmits cortisol results within minutes to a smartphone or portable analyzer, eliminating the need for traditional lab visits.

Understanding cortisol levels can provide crucial diagnostic insights, especially when patients may not express their mental health challenges through conventional questionnaires. Chronic elevation of cortisol has been linked to various mental health issues, making this technology a potentially transformative tool for timely medical intervention.

In the study published in the journal Biomedical Microdevices, researchers emphasize the importance of point-of-care testing. This method allows patients to perform tests in the comfort of their homes or clinics, addressing the urgent need for quick mental health assessments. The integration of physiological biomarker measurements with psychometric evaluations enhances the accuracy of diagnostics for stress-related disorders.

Co-author and doctoral student at UC, Supreeth Setty, is furthering this research by exploring the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which counteracts cortisol's effects. High cortisol to DHEA ratios indicate chronic stress and are associated with anxiety and depression. Setty notes that traditional blood tests can take days for results, while this new saliva method provides rapid feedback, aiding clinicians in making informed decisions.

Moreover, the research team's approach stands out because it combines objective biomarker measurements with traditional subjective assessments, thereby improving the reliability of mental health diagnostics.

Future developments aim to involve collaboration with psychiatrists to conduct clinical trials, ensuring that the platform meets clinical expectations. The study's lead author, Vinitha Thiyagarajan Upaassana, along with Setty and fellow researcher Heeyong Jang, contributed to this significant advancement in health technology.

Beyond mental health applications, the lab-on-a-chip technology has the potential to diagnose other ailments. The researchers have also investigated its use in monitoring cardiac troponin, a protein released during heart damage, as a marker for heart attacks. This innovation could enable daily monitoring of troponin levels, providing critical information for patients at risk of subsequent heart issues.

In addition to cortisol testing, the team has developed a point-of-care platform for COVID-19 diagnostics, showcasing the versatility of their technology. By delivering immediate results for various health conditions, these lab-on-a-chip devices represent a significant step forward in personalized healthcare.