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Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing
Published on: June 1, 2012
Metal-Organic Framework-Preserved Thermostable Microneedle Patch for Minimally Invasive Detection and Monitoring of
Yixuan Wang1, Ying Liu2, Avishek Debnath1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
A new microneedle sensor uses metal-organic frameworks to detect kidney injury biomarkers in skin fluid. This stable, unrefrigerated platform enables early, at-home monitoring of kidney health.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Early detection of kidney damage is crucial but challenging due to asymptomatic progression.
- Current monitoring methods often require invasive procedures and cold-chain logistics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a thermally resilient, minimally invasive biosensing platform for early kidney injury detection.
- To enable decentralized and at-home monitoring of kidney health biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microneedles encapsulated with zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for antibody stabilization.
- Integration of interstitial fluid sampling and on-needle detection of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL).
- Validation in mouse models and human subjects, comparing results with blood NGAL and renal function markers.
Main Results:
- The MOF@MN platform maintained antibody bioactivity and analytical performance under thermal stress and unrefrigerated conditions.
- Quantitative detection of NGAL in dermal interstitial fluid correlated well with blood NGAL levels.
- MOF@MN-derived NGAL measurements preceded changes in conventional renal function markers and correlated with kidney injury severity.
Conclusions:
- Conformal MOF encapsulation is an effective strategy for creating environmentally resilient biosensing interfaces.
- The MOF@MN platform offers a scalable, cold-chain-independent solution for minimally invasive, decentralized kidney injury monitoring.
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