BME401A: Group 03
Peanut allergies are the number one cause of fatal (and near-fatal) food-based anaphylaxis, a condition resulting from allergic reaction. Minimal exposure to peanut, even from cross-contact, can be deadly. We’re here to give patients a sixth sense, to prevent these incidents from occurring. Welcome to the future of allergen safety.
About Our Client
Dr. Baranidharan (Barani) Raman leads the Washington University Systems Neuroscience & Neuromorphic Engineering Lab. His interests lie in understanding olfactory mechanisms in the locust (Schistocerca americana), for reverse-engineering into electronic systems. He would like to extend his technology to Homeland Security applications, such as ranged, mobile bomb sensing.
Needs Statement
There is a need for non-invasive detection of imperceptible, harmful peanut contaminants in food for individuals vulnerable to severe peanut-based anaphylaxis to reduce the short and long-term health impacts of these reactions, such as the risks posed by epinephrine injections, hospitalizations, and the potential for severe complications, including death.
Project Scope
Unnoticeable peanut contaminants in food pose serious risks to individuals allergic to peanuts [1-3], which can result in long-term effects such as progressive sensitization [4], immune system weakening [5], and cardiovascular and neurological complications from life-saving epinephrine injections [6-7]. These reactions can be medical emergencies, resulting in hospitalization and, in the most severe instances, death. To prevent these occurrences, this project proposes to develop an easy to use, non-invasive diagnostic device that detects the presence of peanut contaminant in a sample of food.
It will detect the peanut contaminant at concentration levels indicative of danger at an accuracy level of greater than 90%, and can do so in less than one minute of exposure to the sample.
Ultimately, an iterated prototype will be delivered to our client, Dr. Baranidharan Raman, on April 28, 2025, along with verification and validation results, lab notebook, manufacturing guide, and a final report. The project will also be presented on April 28, 2025 for BME Day.
Prototype
Currently a work in progress!
References
[1] Clark, Sunday, Janice Espinola, Susan A. Rudders, Aleena Banerji, and Carlos A. Camargo. “Frequency of US Emergency Department Visits for Food-Related Acute Allergic Reactions.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 127, no. 3 (March 1, 2011): 682–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.040.
[2] Mayo Clinic. “Anaphylaxis-Anaphylaxis – Symptoms & Causes.” Accessed September 14, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anaphylaxis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351468.
[3] Jones, Stacie M., and A. Wesley Burks. “Food Allergy.” New England Journal of Medicine 377, no. 12 (September 21, 2017): 1168–76. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1611971.
[4] Warren, Christopher, Dawn Lei, Scott Sicherer, Robert Schleimer, and Ruchi Gupta. “Prevalence and Characteristics of Peanut Allergy in US Adults.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 147, no. 6 (June 1, 2021): 2263-2270.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2020.11.046.
[5] “Allergies and the Immune System.” Johns Hopkins Medicine Conditions and Diseases (2024). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/allergies-and-the-immune-system.
[6] Dalal, Rajeev, and Dejan Grujic. “Epinephrine.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2024. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482160/.
[7] Drugs.com. “Generics for EpiPen: What Are Your Options?” Accessed September 14, 2024. https://www.drugs.com/article/epipen-cost-alternatives.html.