Microneedle-Based Sensor Systems For Real-Time Continuous Transdermal Monitoring Of Analytes In Body Fluids

Microneedles, tiny micron-sized structures, made of a variety of materials, have been recently developed for a painless and safe transdermal delivery of drugs through the skin. While microneedles minimally disrupt the outermost layer of the skin and create a pathway to deliver the therapeutic agents, they could also act as conduits for biosignal sensing. Microneedle-based sensors made of conductive and electrochemically reactive biomaterials can provide the valuable information on the levels of analytes in the blood. Also, researchers have realized the great potential of microneedles integrated with microelectrodes for extraction of interstitial fluid and capillary blood, for enhanced monitoring of patient health. Furthermore, they could serve as a tool for analysis of complex medical conditions and illnesses. This microneedle sensor technology can provide a sophisticated analytical approach for in situ and simultaneous detection of numerous analytes. The microneedles can also be used to measure metabolites, biomarkers, and drug level in the interstitial fluid and capillary blood, as well as for the use of microneedle array technology as biosensors for continuous monitoring of analytes in body fluids.