Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026

Department

Bioengineering

First Advisor

Unyoung Kim

Abstract

Oxidative stress, an imbalance of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, serves as both a marker and progressor of several chronic and degenerative diseases. These conditions create a major global health burden, accounting for significant cost and deaths. The prevalence of oxidative stress–driven diseases highlights the need for improved strategies to detect the imbalance before irreversible damage occurs. However, despite its major role in disease progression, oxidative stress is typically assessed using static, invasive, or laboratory methods. These approaches are poorly suited for continuous monitoring and fail to serve high-risk groups, such as patients with a family history of disease or those recovering from surgery. Delays between sample collection and analysis further reduce accuracy because biomarkers associated with oxidative stress degrade rapidly. As healthcare shifts toward preventive and ambulatory care, continuous oxidative stress monitoring remains an unmet clinical need.

To address this need, this project develops the AMBER patch; a minimally invasive electrochemical biosensor designed to continuously monitor hydrogen peroxide as a biomarker of oxidative stress. This system focuses on the development and testing of an electrochemical sensing layer integrated with 3D-printed microneedle arrays and prototype electronics for real-time monitoring. The project outcomes reveal an integrated prototype with the capability to specifically measure very low hydrogen peroxide concentrations and detect real-time changes. Once miniaturized and refined, the AMBER patch can be used by patients and clinicians to continuously monitor changes in reactive oxygen species and intervene before serious disease progression.

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