Development of a System for Measurement of Total Free Thiols - v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a Droplet Microfluidic System for Measurement of Total Free Thiols in Human Plasma
IRAS ID
307839
Contact name
Xize Niu
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Total-free-thiols are an important marker of the body’s redox state, they have shown correlations with disease severity and recovery in numerous conditions including, COVID-19, sepsis and renal transplants. Recent research has highlighted that increased insight may be gained by taking regular measurements to monitor trends in disease or treatment progression. However, conducting such studies is currently challenging due to the requirement for repeated veinous blood sampling and intensive lab work.
We aim to develop a small, portable device that can measure total-free-thiols from a single finger-prick sample of blood, providing the reading within minutes. Such a device will reduce both the sample volume requirements and processing time, allowing increased research output, and understanding of total-free-thiols behaviour, which may ultimately improve medical care.
We propose to use a droplet microfluidic technology developed by our research group and previously used to measure glucose and lactate levels in interstitial fluid, this existing technology will be adapted to measure total-free-thiols. To develop this device, we require blood samples from adult volunteers, who will donate either a veinous blood sample or several fingertip capillary blood samples.
This study will take place at the University of Southampton as part of a PhD project.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0316
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion