Swiss engineering students develop continuous levodopa sensor to track Parkinson's medication levels in real time

Engineering students in Switzerland are developing a continuous sensor that tracks levodopa levels in real time, and you have the opportunity to help guide their research. A team of twelve students from BioSense EPFL, one of Europe’s leading engineering universities, is working on a wearable device designed to take the guesswork out of medication timing. For many people, levodopa brings welcome relief, but as the condition progresses, managing doses can feel unpredictable. Getting the timing right is challenging because medication levels in the body fluctuate throughout the day, often leading to sudden stiffness, tremors, or unexpected movement difficulties. At present, specialists must adjust treatments based on brief appointments and personal memory, meaning up to four in five people end up adjusting their own timings without objective data. To solve this, the student team is developing a small, comfortable patch worn on the skin to monitor levodopa levels in the fluid just beneath it. The technology uses a specially engineered molecule called an aptamer, which acts like a tiny lock that only fits levodopa. When levodopa binds to it, a small electrical signal is generated. In the future, pain free microneedles in the patch will read this signal and send continuous, real time information wirelessly to a phone or display device, creating a clear picture of how your body processes the medication. Alongside the sensor, the team has designed user interfaces to suit different preferences. These include a simple app that prompts you when a dose is due, a detailed version that tracks symptom logs against your live levodopa curve, and a standalone display for those who prefer not to use smartphones. They are also exploring a smart pillbox that automatically records when medication is taken. The goal is to provide specialists with an accurate summary of your individual therapeutic window so treatments can be adjusted with precision. Looking ahead, the researchers hope this continuous monitoring will lay the groundwork for automated delivery systems, similar to the continuous monitors and automated pumps used in diabetes care. The student team built this project by listening to people directly, and they need further real world insight to refine their design. You can shape this research by completing their short online survey. Whether you live with Parkinson's, support a loved one, or work in healthcare, your feedback will ensure the final technology truly meets everyday needs. You can share your thoughts directly with the research team by completing the survey here: ([https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/4b7b4e0f-d774-4015-c8c7-d62bc137b5a7])