Pain-Free and Wireless Luminescent Microneedle Sensor Array for In Situ Monitoring Tissue Oxygenation Status in...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Diagnostics
• Diabetes Research

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe diabetes complication, often leading to amputation.
• Early DFU diagnosis is critical for effective management and prevention of severe outcomes.
• DFU progression is linked to changes in tissue oxygenation levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a painless, wireless microneedle sensor array for minimally invasive tissue oxygenation measurement.
• To enable convenient, home-based monitoring of tissue oxygenation for early DFU detection.
• To assess the potential of microneedle sensors for identifying early microcirculation damage in DFUs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a luminescent microneedle sensor array with high mechanical stability and biocompatibility.
• Utilizing miniaturized fluorescence sensing technology for oxygen concentration measurement.
• In vivo testing of the microneedle sensor array in mice models with DFUs to monitor tissue oxygenation.

Main Results:

• The microneedle sensor array demonstrated excellent measurement accuracy (0.1% oxygen resolution) and stability (>500,000 tests).
• The sensors successfully monitored tissue oxygenation at various DFU stages in mice.
• Early blood microcirculation damage, undetectable by current methods, was identified.

Conclusions:

• The developed microneedle sensor array offers a simple, effective tool for home-based DFU monitoring.
• This technology can significantly aid in early DFU diagnosis and management, reducing amputation risks.
• Integration into wearable devices holds promise for widespread adoption in diabetes care.