University of Cincinnati (UC) engineers have developed an advanced ‘lab-on-a-chip’ device to support doctors in diagnosing mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
The device measures cortisol, a stress hormone, providing crucial diagnostic information even if patients do not report symptoms in standard mental health questionnaires.
The lab-on-a-chip system created by UC researchers tracks cortisol levels using a disposable collection device placed in the mouth.
The device is then inserted into a reader, which transmits results within minutes to a portable analyser and smartphone, providing a new approach to mental health assessment.
UC Research Professor Chong Ahn said: “We’re working on point-of-care testing, which allows patients to do testing at home or in a clinic.
People don’t want to go to a lab to get invasive tests. Mental health care can be an urgent situation. And so, these tests will help doctors make timely interventions.
“The system uses traditional psychometric evaluations in a questionnaire along with physiological biomarker measurements that provide evidence-based diagnostics.
“This approach has the potential to open a new realm of diagnostics for stress disorders. Patients can do the testing themselves and share results with doctors via smartphones.”
UC doctoral student Supreeth Setty is exploring another hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), for his dissertation. DHEA helps mitigate the effects of excessive cortisol.
Research indicates that high cortisol-to-DHEA ratios are markers of chronic stress linked to depression and anxiety.
The study, led by UC doctoral graduate Vinitha Thiyagarajan Upaassana, with co-authors Setty and Heeyeong Jang, was partially funded by UC’s Technology Accelerator Project.
The research highlights the potential of the technique for diagnosing other health conditions.
Jang said: “Once you survive a heart attack there is an increased probability of having another heart attack.
“If you feel a little weird, it’s better to go directly to the hospital. But we can monitor troponin in the blood on a daily basis and hopefully get valuable information. The test provides immediate results, which is important when a patient is in need of immediate care.”
UC researchers also examined troponin, a protein released into the bloodstream during heart damage, such as a heart attack.
High cardiac troponin levels, combined with symptoms like chest pain, can indicate a heart attack in progress.
The team published their findings in the journal Analytical Chemistry, showcasing a device for rapid point-of-care biochemical testing of troponin from a drop of blood.
In addition, UC researchers developed a new point-of-care testing platform for COVID-19.
Setty said: “When a patient comes in, they take blood samples. Normally it takes days to get lab results back. But here the results are obtained in a few minutes using saliva, and it’s noninvasive.”
“The tests provide clinicians with objective evidence to supplement traditional screenings such as the patient health questionnaire. Point-of-care testing is a practical way to make results available quickly for everyone.
“Unlike mental health questionnaires that can be more subjective because they rely on a patient’s candor and self-awareness, the cortisol and DHEA tests are objective and can raise a red flag about a patient’s levels of stress.
“The next step would be to collaborate with psychiatrists and conduct clinical trials to see if our platform works as expected.”
