Microneedle Array-Based Dermal Interstitial Fluid Biopsy for Cancer Diagnosis: Advances and Challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biotechnology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Current cancer diagnostic tools are often inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to cost and complexity.
• Limited resources in LMICs hinder the adoption of advanced diagnostic technologies like imaging and biopsies.
• There is a critical need for accessible, minimally invasive cancer detection methods in resource-limited environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review microneedle-based liquid biopsy methods for analyzing skin interstitial fluid (ISF) for cancer diagnosis.
• To assess the potential of ISF liquid biopsy to meet diagnostic needs in low-resource settings.
• To explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and point-of-care (POC) applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on microneedle technology and ISF analysis for cancer biomarkers.
• Evaluation of microneedle designs and ISF extraction techniques for effectiveness and practicality.
• Assessment of AI integration for data interpretation and real-time POC diagnostics.

Main Results:

• Microneedle-based ISF biopsy is a promising, minimally invasive alternative to traditional cancer diagnostics.
• Innovations in microneedle technology facilitate direct capture of cancer biomarkers from skin ISF.
• AI integration can significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy and enable real-time POC applications.

Conclusions:

• Microneedle ISF biopsy presents a scalable and flexible model for accessible cancer diagnostics in LMICs.
• This approach has the potential to significantly improve early cancer detection rates and healthcare quality in resource-limited environments.
• Further development and integration of AI can optimize this technology for widespread adoption.