Recent Developments in Microneedle Biosensors for Biomedical and Agricultural Applications

Area of Science:

• Biosensing technologies
• Biomedical engineering
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Microneedles are versatile tools for biosensing in medicine and agriculture.
• Recent advancements focus on novel applications beyond traditional uses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress in microneedle-based biosensors in emerging fields.
• To identify key challenges and future research opportunities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in microneedle biosensor technology.
• Analysis of applications in biomedical and agricultural domains.
• Identification of persistent challenges and future research directions.

Main Results:

• Microneedle biosensors are advancing in continuous glucose monitoring and multiplexed biomarker detection.
• Integrated wearable systems with microneedle arrays are increasingly common.
• Agricultural applications include monitoring plant growth markers, hormones, and nutrients.
• Challenges include biofouling, electrode degradation, and scalability of fabrication.

Conclusions:

• Further research is needed to overcome biofouling and electrode degradation for long-term in situ monitoring.
• Standardized testing protocols and performance metrics are required for accurate comparisons.
• Opportunities exist for developing scalable fabrication processes and improving electrode longevity.