Disposable Microneedle Biosensor Enables Highly Sensitive and Selective Glucose Detection from Interstitial Fluid

Biosensors and Bioelectronics (Elsevier) Netherlands

Overview

This research introduces an innovative disposable biosensing system integrating swellable, biocompatible microneedle (MN) arrays with chemically modified screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). A custom applicator efficiently collects 6.55 ± 0.47 μL of interstitial fluid (ISF) within 5 minutes. The system achieves highly sensitive and selective glucose detection from ISF with an ultralow limit of detection of 0.08 mM, demonstrating significant potential for future multi-biomarker point-of-care (POC) monitoring from microliter volumes of ISF.

In Depth

Background

Glucose monitoring for diabetic patients is essential for disease management. However, traditional blood tests are invasive and unsuitable for continuous monitoring. While Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems are becoming prevalent, there remains room for improvement in terms of accuracy, cost, and patient comfort. Minimally invasive biomarker detection from interstitial fluid (ISF) offers a promising approach to provide real-time data with minimal pain. In this area, microneedle (MN) technology has garnered significant attention.

Key Findings / Results

This study developed a disposable microneedle-based biosensing system that integrates the following key features and achievements:

• Swellable Biocompatible Microneedle Array: The system employs biocompatible, swellable microneedles that can be painlessly inserted into the skin’s surface. These MNs are highly effective at extracting interstitial fluid.
• Chemically Modified Screen-Printed Electrodes (SPE): Integrated with the microneedle array, the screen-printed electrodes are chemically modified to facilitate selective electrochemical reactions with glucose. This design ensures high selectivity and sensitivity in glucose detection.
• Efficient Interstitial Fluid Collection: Using a custom-designed applicator, a minute volume of approximately 6.55 ± 0.47 μL of ISF can be quickly and stably collected within just 5 minutes. This volume is sufficient for reliable analysis while minimizing invasiveness to the patient.
• High Sensitivity and Selective Glucose Detection: The developed system demonstrated the ability to detect glucose with high sensitivity and an exceptionally low limit of detection of 0.08 mM. Excellent selectivity against other potentially co-existing biomolecules was also confirmed.
• Disposable Platform: The system features a disposable design, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination and ensures hygienic operation.

This minimally invasive MN SPE platform enables reliable glucose quantification from microliter volumes of ISF, showing significant potential for improving self-management for diabetic patients.

Technical Significance & Outlook

This disposable microneedle biosensor has the potential to significantly impact diabetes management. Its minimal invasiveness, rapid ISF collection capability, high sensitivity, and disposable design enhance patient convenience, reduce infection risks, and improve the cost-effectiveness of routine glucose monitoring. It is particularly well-suited for home use and deployment in point-of-care (POC) testing environments, assisting patients in more actively managing their health. Future developments are expected to expand this platform to simultaneously detect multiple biomarkers—such as lactate, ketone bodies, and cortisol—in a single device. This advancement could extend its application beyond diabetes to comprehensive health monitoring for other chronic diseases, contributing to the progress of personalized medicine. The integration of such devices into broader digital health ecosystems will further accelerate their clinical impact.