1
|
Wang L, Wang Y, Wu X, Wang P, Luo X, Lv S. Advances in microneedles for transdermal diagnostics and sensing applications. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:406. [PMID: 38898359 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06458-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Microneedles, the miniaturized needles, which can pierce the skin with minimal invasiveness open up new possibilities for constructing personalized Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic platforms. Recent advances in microneedle-based POC diagnostic systems, especially their successful implementation with wearable technologies, enable biochemical detection and physiological recordings in a user-friendly manner. This review presents an overview of the current advances in microneedle-based sensor devices, with emphasis on the biological basis of transdermal sensing, fabrication, and application of different types of microneedles, and a summary of microneedle devices based on various sensing strategies. It concludes with the challenges and future prospects of this swiftly growing field. The aim is to present a critical and thorough analysis of the state-of-the-art development of transdermal diagnostics and sensing devices based on microneedles, and to bridge the gap between microneedle technology and pragmatic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Shandong Key Laboratory of Biochemical Analysis, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, MOE, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Yingli Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Shandong Key Laboratory of Biochemical Analysis, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, MOE, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Shandong Key Laboratory of Biochemical Analysis, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, MOE, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Peipei Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Xiliang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Shandong Key Laboratory of Biochemical Analysis, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science in Universities of Shandong, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, MOE, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China.
| | - Shaoping Lv
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zoratto N, Klein‐Cerrejon D, Gao D, Inchiparambil T, Sachs D, Luo Z, Leroux J. A Bioinspired and Cost-Effective Device for Minimally Invasive Blood Sampling. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308809. [PMID: 38450888 PMCID: PMC11095219 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Conventional venipuncture is invasive and challenging in low and middle-income countries. Conversely, point-of-care devices paired with fingersticks, although less invasive, suffer from high variability and low blood volume collection. Recently approved microsampling devices address some of these issues but remain cost-prohibitive for resource-limited settings. In this work, a cost-effective microsampling device is described for the collection of liquid blood with minimal invasiveness and sufficient volume retrieval for laboratory analyses or immediate point-of-care testing. Inspired by the anatomy of sanguivorous leeches, the single-use device features a storage compartment for blood collection and a microneedle patch hidden within a suction cup. Finite Element Method simulations, corroborated by mechanical analyses, guide the material selection for device fabrication and design optimization. In piglets, the device successfully collects ≈195 µL of blood with minimal invasiveness. Additionally, a tailor-made lid and adapter enable safe fluid transportation and integration with commercially available point-of-care systems for on-site analyses, respectively. Taken together, the proposed platform holds significant promise for enhancing healthcare in the pediatric population by improving patient compliance and reducing the risk of needlestick injuries through concealed microneedles. Most importantly, given its cost-effective fabrication, the open-source microsampling device may have a meaningful impact in resource-limited healthcare settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Zoratto
- Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Chemistry and Applied BiosciencesETHZurich8093Switzerland
| | - David Klein‐Cerrejon
- Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Chemistry and Applied BiosciencesETHZurich8093Switzerland
| | - Daniel Gao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Chemistry and Applied BiosciencesETHZurich8093Switzerland
| | - Tino Inchiparambil
- Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Chemistry and Applied BiosciencesETHZurich8093Switzerland
| | - David Sachs
- Institute for Mechanical SystemsDepartment of Mechanical and Process EngineeringETHZurich8093Switzerland
| | - Zhi Luo
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenGuangdong518055P.R. China
| | - Jean‐Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesDepartment of Chemistry and Applied BiosciencesETHZurich8093Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vloemans D, Van Hileghem L, Ordutowski H, Dal Dosso F, Spasic D, Lammertyn J. Self-Powered Microfluidics for Point-of-Care Solutions: From Sampling to Detection of Proteins and Nucleic Acids. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2804:3-50. [PMID: 38753138 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3850-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Self-powered microfluidics presents a revolutionary approach to address the challenges of healthcare in decentralized and point-of-care settings where limited access to resources and infrastructure prevails or rapid clinical decision-making is critical. These microfluidic systems exploit physical and chemical phenomena, such as capillary forces and surface tension, to manipulate tiny volumes of fluids without the need for external power sources, making them cost-effective and highly portable. Recent technological advancements have demonstrated the ability to preprogram complex multistep liquid operations within the microfluidic circuit of these standalone systems, which enabled the integration of sensitive detection and readout principles. This chapter first addresses how the accessibility to in vitro diagnostics can be improved by shifting toward decentralized approaches like remote microsampling and point-of-care testing. Next, the crucial role of self-powered microfluidic technologies to enable this patient-centric healthcare transition is emphasized using various state-of-the-art examples, with a primary focus on applications related to biofluid collection and the detection of either proteins or nucleic acids. This chapter concludes with a summary of the main findings and our vision of the future perspectives in the field of self-powered microfluidic technologies and their use for in vitro diagnostics applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dries Vloemans
- Department of Biosystems - Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Henry Ordutowski
- Department of Biosystems - Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Dragana Spasic
- Department of Biosystems - Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Lammertyn
- Department of Biosystems - Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Van Hileghem L, Kushwaha S, Piovesan A, Verboven P, Nicolaï B, Reynaerts D, Dal Dosso F, Lammertyn J. Innovative Fabrication of Hollow Microneedle Arrays Enabling Blood Sampling with a Self-Powered Microfluidic Patch. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:615. [PMID: 36985022 PMCID: PMC10052199 DOI: 10.3390/mi14030615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microneedles are gaining a lot of attention in the context of sampling cutaneous biofluids such as capillary blood. Their minimal invasiveness and user-friendliness make them a prominent substitute for venous puncture or finger-pricking. Although the latter is suitable for self-sampling, the impracticality of manual handling and the difficulty of obtaining enough qualitative sample is driving the search for better solutions. In this context, hollow microneedle arrays (HMNAs) are particularly interesting for completely integrating sample-to-answer solutions as they create a duct between the skin and the sampling device. However, the fabrication of sharp-tipped HMNAs with a high aspect ratio (AR) is challenging, especially since a length of ≥1500 μm is desired to reach the blood capillaries. In this paper, we first described a novel two-step fabrication protocol for HMNAs in stainless steel by percussion laser drilling and subsequent micro-milling. The HMNAs were then integrated into a self-powered microfluidic sampling patch, containing a capillary pump which was optimized to generate negative pressure differences up to 40.9 ± 1.8 kPa. The sampling patch was validated in vitro, showing the feasibility of sampling 40 μL of liquid. It is anticipated that our proof-of-concept is a starting point for more sophisticated all-in-one biofluid sampling and point-of-care testing systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Van Hileghem
- Biosensors Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Micro- and Nanoscale Integration, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Shashwat Kushwaha
- Institute of Micro- and Nanoscale Integration, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Manufacturing Processes and Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Member of Flanders Make, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Agnese Piovesan
- Postharvest Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Verboven
- Postharvest Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Nicolaï
- Postharvest Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominiek Reynaerts
- Institute of Micro- and Nanoscale Integration, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Manufacturing Processes and Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Member of Flanders Make, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesco Dal Dosso
- Biosensors Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Micro- and Nanoscale Integration, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Lammertyn
- Biosensors Group, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Micro- and Nanoscale Integration, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Faraji Rad Z, Prewett PD, Davies GJ. An overview of microneedle applications, materials, and fabrication methods. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 12:1034-1046. [PMID: 34621614 PMCID: PMC8450954 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.12.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Microneedle-based microdevices promise to expand the scope for delivery of vaccines and therapeutic agents through the skin and withdrawing biofluids for point-of-care diagnostics - so-called theranostics. Unskilled and painless applications of microneedle patches for blood collection or drug delivery are two of the advantages of microneedle arrays over hypodermic needles. Developing the necessary microneedle fabrication processes has the potential to dramatically impact the health care delivery system by changing the landscape of fluid sampling and subcutaneous drug delivery. Microneedle designs which range from sub-micron to millimetre feature sizes are fabricated using the tools of the microelectronics industry from metals, silicon, and polymers. Various types of subtractive and additive manufacturing processes have been used to manufacture microneedles, but the development of microneedle-based systems using conventional subtractive methods has been constrained by the limitations and high cost of microfabrication technology. Additive manufacturing processes such as 3D printing and two-photon polymerization fabrication are promising transformative technologies developed in recent years. The present article provides an overview of microneedle systems applications, designs, material selection, and manufacturing methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Faraji Rad
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia
| | - Philip D Prewett
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
- Oxacus Ltd, Dorchester-on-Thames, OX10 7HN, United Kingdom
| | - Graham J Davies
- Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Australia, NSW 2052, Australia
- College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu GS, Kong Y, Wang Y, Luo Y, Fan X, Xie X, Yang BR, Wu MX. Microneedles for transdermal diagnostics: Recent advances and new horizons. Biomaterials 2020; 232:119740. [PMID: 31918227 PMCID: PMC7432994 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Point-of-care testing (POCT), defined as the test performed at or near a patient, has been evolving into a complement to conventional laboratory diagnosis by continually providing portable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use measurement tools. Among them, microneedle-based POCT devices have gained increasing attention from researchers due to the glorious potential for detecting various analytes in a minimally invasive manner. More recently, a novel synergism between microneedle and wearable technologies is expanding their detection capabilities. Herein, we provide an overview on the progress in microneedle-based transdermal biosensors. It covers all the main aspects of the field, including design philosophy, material selection, and working mechanisms as well as the utility of the devices. We also discuss lessons from the past, challenges of the present, and visions for the future on translation of these state-of-the-art technologies from the bench to the bedside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Shi Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yifei Kong
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Yensheng Wang
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Yunhan Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications, College of Science & Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xudong Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Bo-Ru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Mei X Wu
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen J, Cheng P, Sun Y, Wang Y, Zhang X, Yang Z, Ding G. A Minimally Invasive Hollow Microneedle With a Cladding Structure: Ultra-Thin but Strong, Batch Manufacturable. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2019; 66:3480-3485. [DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2019.2906571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
8
|
Abstract
Microneedle patches (MNPs) contain arrays of solid needles measuring hundreds of microns in length that deliver drugs and vaccines into skin in a painless, easy-to-use manner. Optimal MNP design balances multiple interdependent parameters that determine mechanical strength, skin-insertion reliability, drug delivery efficiency, painlessness, manufacturability, and other features of MNPs that affect their performance. MNPs can be made by adapting various microfabrication technologies for delivery of small-molecule drugs, biologics, and vaccines targeted to the skin, which can have pharmacokinetic and immunologic advantages. A small number of human clinical trials, as well as a large and growing market for MNP products for cosmetics, indicate that MNPs can be used safely, efficaciously, and with strong patient acceptance. More advanced clinical trials and commercial-scale manufacturing will facilitate development of MNPs to realize their potential to dramatically increase patient access to otherwise-injectable drugs and to improve drug performance via skin delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Prausnitz
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0100;
| |
Collapse
|