Evaluating the Suitability of Perfusion-Based PD Probes for Use in Altered Gravity Environments
Name
biosensors-15-00478.pdf
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1.86 MB
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Checksum (MD5)
c12c3186696eb7bce4f85a762c23cfae
Author(s)
MacRobbie, Madelyn
Chen, Vanessa Z.
Paige, Cody
Otuya, David
Stankovic, Aleksandra
Tearney, Guillermo
Date Issued
July 24, 2025
Journal
Biosensors
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Citation
MacRobbie, M.; Chen, V.Z.; Paige, C.; Otuya, D.; Stankovic, A.; Tearney, G. Evaluating the Suitability of Perfusion-Based PD Probes for Use in Altered Gravity Environments. Biosensors 2025, 15, 478.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Measurable changes in electrophysiology have been documented in spaceflight, creating a pathway for disease genesis and progression in astronauts. These electrophysiology changes can be measured using potential difference (PD). A probe to measure PD was developed and is used clinically on Earth; this probe relies on fluid perfusion to establish an electrical connection to make PD measurements. The changes to fluid behavior in microgravity and partial gravity (including lunar and Martian gravity) drives the need to test this probe in a spaceflight environment. Here, we test the PD probe in a novel nasal cavity phantom in parabolic flight, simulating microgravity, lunar gravity, Martian gravity, and hypergravity conditions across 37 parabolas. The results are evaluated across gravity conditions using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. We record no statistically significant difference in probe PD measurements in 1 g, microgravity, lunar gravity, and hypergravity (approximately 1.8 g) conditions, reaching a NASA Technology Readiness Level 6. Martian gravity findings are inconclusive. Perfusion-based PD probes are therefore successfully demonstrated for use in spaceflight operation in microgravity, lunar gravity, and hypergravity environments; this establishes a foundation for moving towards the in-space testing of perfusion-based probes in astronauts.
MIT Department
Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Media Laboratory
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Creative Commons Attribution
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15080478
