Warwick University’s Sarissa gives warning on oxygen-starved newborns

Nick Dale

The sensor, developed by Professor Nick Dale, measures hypoxanthine, a chemical found in the blood. An unborn child with more than 5 micromoles of hypoxanthine per litre of their blood is at severe risk of hypoxia, or oxygen starvation. While current tests for the condition require blood samples to be analysed in the laboratory, the sensor gives an instant read out. This would allow doctors to take more informed decisions as to whether to proceed to a caesarean section, and is likely to reduce the number of caesarean sections conducted.

“We have invented methods for enzyme deposition on microelectrodes,” said Dale in an interview. “The method is highly reproducible and reliable lending itself to techniques of parallel manufacture, which is essential for a commercial product. This has allowed us to market a series of microelectrode biosensors aimed at the scientific analytical market.”

According to Dale, the threat of fetal hypoxia poses dangers not only for the child, but also for the mother as doctors often proceed quickly to a caesarean section if they feel there is a significant danger of it occurring.

In England and Wales, where there are 640,000 births per year, hypoxia occurs in about five per cent of babies, and tests are performed on about seven per cent of newborns.

“There is also a drive to try and diminish the ever-increasing levels of caesarean section by having better indicators of fetal distress,” said Dale. “This is a considerable financial burden on the National Health Service and is replicated in all the major economies of the developed world. Thus the market is very significant.”

Sarissa is further developing the sensor to measure analytes that can be used to diagnose stroke. The company is seeking for partners for instrument development and fluidics prototyping, and for cash investments to finance a full clinical trial.