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Published on: February 21, 2019
Microneedle-based sampling of dermal interstitial fluid using a vacuum-assisted skin patch
Xue Jiang1, Elizabeth C Wilkirson1, Aaron O Bailey2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University, Houston 77005, TX, USA.
Insights
Researchers developed a minimally invasive microneedle patch to collect large volumes of interstitial fluid (ISF) for diagnostics. This new method significantly improves fluid collection, enabling comprehensive biomarker analysis and disease detection.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Diagnostics
- Proteomics
Background:
- Interstitial fluid (ISF) is a rich source of biomarkers but is underutilized due to limited sample collection methods.
- Existing techniques for ISF collection are slow, invasive, and yield insufficient sample volumes for comprehensive analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a simple, minimally invasive technique for rapid collection of substantial ISF volumes.
- To assess the suitability of collected ISF for proteomic analysis and biomarker discovery.
- To demonstrate the diagnostic utility of ISF for detecting disease-specific biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- A microneedle array was employed to create micropores in the skin.
- A vacuum-assisted skin patch was used to extract ISF through the micropores.
- Collected ISF underwent proteomic analysis and immunoassay testing.
Main Results:
- The technique successfully collected an average of 20.8 μL of ISF in 25 minutes, a six-fold improvement over existing methods.
- Proteomic analysis showed ISF protein composition is nearly identical to blood, identifying over 600 relevant biomarkers.
- SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies were successfully detected in ISF from COVID-19 vaccinees.
Conclusions:
- This novel microneedle-based technique provides a rapid and efficient method for collecting large volumes of ISF.
- ISF is a viable alternative to blood for comprehensive proteomic profiling and diagnostic testing.
- The method holds significant potential for advancing minimally invasive diagnostics and personalized medicine.
Abstract:
Interstitial fluid (ISF) contains a wealth of biomolecules, yet it is underutilized for diagnostic testing due to a lack of rapid and simple techniques for collecting abundant amounts of fluid. Here, we report a simple and minimally invasive technique for rapidly sampling larger quantities of ISF from human skin. A microneedle array is used to generate micropores in skin from which ISF is extracted using a vacuum-assisted skin patch. Using this technique, an average of 20.8 μL of dermal ISF is collected in 25 min, which is an ∼6-fold improvement over existing sampling methods. Proteomic analysis of collected ISF reveals that it has nearly identical protein composition as blood, and >600 medically relevant biomarkers are identified. Toward this end, we demonstrate the detection of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in ISF collected from COVID-19 vaccinees using two commercial immunoassays, showcasing the utility of this technique for diagnostic testing.
