INSITE: Implantable Nanophotonic Sensor for Immuno-response in the Tumor micro- Environment

INSITE 1 & INSITE 2


INSITE Concept

Motivation

There is wide heterogeneity in therapeutic response across patients, and no method exists to visualize the real-time multicellular response to therapy to enable personalized medicine. Monitoring real-time multicellular changes deep inside the body with sufficient resolution is critical for understanding the dynamics of biological processes.

Currently, these factors are only visible when looking at the tissue under a microscope and only with a biopsy. However, repeated biopsies, often of sites deep within the patient, are impractical due to morbidity, cost, and logistics. 

In clinical practice, the state of the art for monitoring immunotherapy response is to use clinical imaging technologies: computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and multimodal techniques (CT/PET, PET/MRI, etc.) which are either not practical for continuous monitoring or not have the required resolution.


Our Solution


We present the design and implementation of a wireless implantable multicolor multicolor fluorescence image sensor consisting of 

1) a 36×40-pixel lensless wireless CMOS imaging ASIC

2) an optical front end for multicolor fluorescence microscopy

3) up to 3 color microlaser diodes, 

4) a single piezoceramic (Lead Zirconate Titanate, PZT) transceiver for wireless power harvesting and data transmission up to a depth of 5cm. 

5) off-chip capacitors for energy storage.


Future work to further enhance sensitivity, integrate the system in a biocompatible structure and minimize the form factor will enable the utility of the device for real-time fluorescence microscopy to detect microscopic cell foci, increasing visibility into the tumor microenvironment and guiding cancer therapy.


References