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Published on: June 1, 2012
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A 3D-printed transepidermal microprojection array for human skin microbiome sampling.
Kun Liang1, Cheryl Leong1, Jia Min Loh1
1A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138648.
Summary
A novel 3D-printed microprojection array (MPA) effectively samples skin microbes from both surface and deeper layers. This advanced skin microbiome sampling tool enhances detection of fungi and diverse microbial species.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Conventional skin microbiome sampling methods (swabs, tape strips) may miss microbes in deeper skin layers.
- Understanding the full skin microbial community is crucial for health and disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel sampling tool, the transepidermal microprojection array (MPA), for comprehensive skin microbiome analysis.
- To assess the MPA's efficacy compared to existing methods for capturing skin microbial biomass.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D printing for rapid customization and optimization of the MPA design.
- Evaluated MPA sampling efficacy on human scalp, comparing it with traditional swab and tape strip methods.
Main Results:
- The optimized MPA demonstrated comparable sensitivity to swabs and superior performance to tape strips, particularly on nonstandard skin surfaces.
- MPA sampling detected a higher frequency of clinically relevant fungi and revealed differences in species diversity compared to conventional methods.
Conclusions:
- The 3D-printed MPA offers an advanced solution for skin microbiome sampling, capturing microbes from multiple skin depths.
- This tool has the potential to improve our understanding of the skin microbiome's role in dermatological health and disease.
