Artificial biosensor enables more precise detection of the body’s primary stress hormone
- Ritambhara K
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Cortisol is a vital hormone that helps regulate key functions in the body, including blood pressure and metabolism. When cortisol levels become unbalanced, it can lead to a range of health issues.
Until now, measuring cortisol has typically required a visit to a doctor’s office or a clinical lab. But a breakthrough in artificial biosensor technology could soon make it possible to test and diagnose cortisol levels on the spot — with far greater accuracy than current methods.
Andy Yeh, an assistant professor of biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has developed a glowing artificial sensor that attaches to cortisol in blood or urine. When it binds, it emits light, revealing the hormone’s levels in the body. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society shows that this method can detect cortisol at all concentrations relevant to human health.
Yeh’s research also demonstrates that the biosensor can work with a smartphone camera, allowing people to check their cortisol levels at home or in clinics. This highly sensitive approach removes the need for expensive lab equipment, opening the door to wider access to accurate stress hormone monitoring.
Built from the ground up
Andy Yeh specializes in artificial protein design — a cutting-edge approach that uses AI-powered computation to create entirely new proteins, rather than modifying ones that already exist in nature.
For his cortisol detection system, Yeh engineered a protein-based biosensor where the stress hormone acts like a molecular matchmaker, bringing two custom-designed proteins together. When they connect, they produce light — and the brighter the glow, the higher the cortisol level.
According to Yeh, this is the first time a fully computer-designed biosensor has achieved such remarkable sensitivity and dynamic range for detecting a small molecule. By capturing both the brightness and color of the emitted light with a camera, the system can measure cortisol levels with greater precision than current testing methods.
Point-of-care testing made simple
The new diagnostic works in a straightforward “mix and read” style, much like rapid Covid-19 tests. A tiny sample — just a drop of blood or urine — is combined with a solution containing the biosensor. From there, a smartphone camera and app can read the light the sensor gives off and instantly translate it into an exact cortisol measurement.
“You can read the signal right away — the sensor’s output is light, so you can simply snap a picture with your phone,” Yeh explained. “It’s designed to be truly field-friendly.”
Dynamic results with a wider reach
This new test is far more sensitive than traditional methods, which often fall short when cortisol levels are outside the normal range. Yeh’s biosensor can measure across a much broader dynamic range, delivering clear, quantitative results whether cortisol levels are healthy, too low, or too high.
“This sensor is incredibly sensitive compared to the standard hospital tests,” Yeh said. “Its dynamic range is much larger than that of traditional assays.”
Looking ahead, Yeh sees potential for the technology to be used not only in everyday diagnostics but also in drug development — helping researchers better understand, prevent, and treat conditions linked to cortisol imbalances.
The project received support from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the UC Santa Cruz start-up fund.
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