Collection of Analytes from Microneedle Patches
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Abstract
Clinical medicine and public health
would benefit from simplified
acquisition of biological samples from patients that can be easily
obtained at point of care, in the field, and by patients themselves.
Microneedle patches are designed to serve this need by collecting
dermal interstitial fluid containing biomarkers without the dangers,
pain, or expertise needed to collect blood. This study presents novel
methods to collect biomarker analytes from microneedle patches for
analysis by integration into conventional analytical laboratory microtubes
and microplates. Microneedle patches were made out of cross-linked
hydrogel composed of poly(methyl vinyl ether-<i>alt</i>-maleic
acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) prepared by micromolding. Microneedle
patches were shown to swell with water up to 50-fold in volume, depending
on degree of polymer cross-linking, and to collect interstitial fluid
from the skin of rats. To collect analytes from microneedle patches,
the patches were mounted within the cap of microcentrifuge tubes or
formed the top of V-bottom multiwell microplates, and fluid was collected
in the bottom of the tubes under gentle centrifugation. In another
method, microneedle patches were attached to form the bottom of multiwell
microplates, thereby enabling in situ analysis. The simplicity of
biological sample acquisition using microneedle patches coupled with
the simplicity of analyte collection from microneedles patches integrated
into conventional analytical equipment could broaden the reach of
future screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of biomarkers in healthcare
and environmental/workplace settings