An integrated microsystem with microneedle blood sampling and multi-analyte electrochemical sensing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Minimally invasive monitoring of metabolic biomarkers is crucial for managing chronic diseases.
• Traditional blood sampling methods can be painful and increase infection risk.
• Microneedle-based platforms offer a less invasive alternative for sample collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and validate a fully integrated, thumb-actuated microsystem for point-of-care (POC) blood sampling and electrochemical multi-biomarker analysis.
• To enable seamless sampling, plasma separation, and quantification of biomarkers like glucose and lactate.
• To demonstrate the potential of this integrated system for next-generation POC devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microsystem coupling a hollow microneedle with a paper-based plasma separation membrane.
• Integration of a custom two-channel electrochemical sensing circuit for biomarker analysis.
• In vivo validation of the device using glucose and lactate testing in rabbits.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a thumb-actuated microsystem for microliter-scale blood sampling.
• Effective plasma separation and subsequent electrochemical sensing of glucose and lactate.
• Proof-of-concept in vivo validation in a rabbit model, showcasing POC potential.

Conclusions:

• The developed microsystem offers a versatile and user-friendly approach for integrated microneedle blood sampling and electrochemical sensing.
• This technology holds significant potential for advancing point-of-care diagnostics and chronic disease management.
• The system paves the way for next-generation multi-analyte POC devices.