Episode 16: Biosensor enables early detection of organ transplant failure

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin’s Sophia Chen interviews Surabhi Madhvapathy of Northwestern University about an implantable bioelectronics system that can perform early detection of kidney transplant rejection in rats. Madhvapathy and her colleagues have developed a wireless sensor that attaches to the kidney itself. The biosensor measures the organ’s temperature and its thermal conductivity. These can point toward inflammation in the kidney, which can be a sign of organ rejection. This work was published in a recent issue of Science.