2024 | Yuanting Xie, Jinhua He, Wenqing He, Tayyaba Iftikhar, Chuangjie Zhang, Lei Su, and Xueji Zhang
A 3D-printed hollow microneedle array (MAP) combined with a vacuum tube (VT) is introduced for efficient interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction and rapid analysis. This device enables the collection of approximately 18 μL of ISF from a rabbit ear within 5 minutes using negative pressure from the VT. The MAP, made of biocompatible PMA resin, is designed to penetrate the skin without damaging deeper tissues, allowing for minimally invasive ISF extraction. The device is user-friendly, requiring no specialized training, and can be integrated with various sensing units, such as lateral flow test strips (LFTS), chemiluminescent, and colorimetric papers, for on-site analysis. The VT-integrated MAP device allows for the storage of ISF in the hose for subsequent analysis, eliminating the need for post-processing steps. The device demonstrates high efficiency in ISF extraction, with a single microneedle achieving an extraction rate of 0.0368 μL min⁻¹. The extracted ISF can be analyzed using commercial glucometers for glucose measurement, and the device has been tested for rapid detection of glucocorticoids, lactate, and pH levels in live rabbits. The device is also scalable, enabling the development of versatile point-of-care sensing systems. The MAP can be reused after sterilization, and the device has been shown to provide accurate results comparable to conventional methods. The VT-integrated MAP device offers a promising solution for rapid, non-invasive ISF analysis, with potential applications in decentralized personal healthcare.A 3D-printed hollow microneedle array (MAP) combined with a vacuum tube (VT) is introduced for efficient interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction and rapid analysis. This device enables the collection of approximately 18 μL of ISF from a rabbit ear within 5 minutes using negative pressure from the VT. The MAP, made of biocompatible PMA resin, is designed to penetrate the skin without damaging deeper tissues, allowing for minimally invasive ISF extraction. The device is user-friendly, requiring no specialized training, and can be integrated with various sensing units, such as lateral flow test strips (LFTS), chemiluminescent, and colorimetric papers, for on-site analysis. The VT-integrated MAP device allows for the storage of ISF in the hose for subsequent analysis, eliminating the need for post-processing steps. The device demonstrates high efficiency in ISF extraction, with a single microneedle achieving an extraction rate of 0.0368 μL min⁻¹. The extracted ISF can be analyzed using commercial glucometers for glucose measurement, and the device has been tested for rapid detection of glucocorticoids, lactate, and pH levels in live rabbits. The device is also scalable, enabling the development of versatile point-of-care sensing systems. The MAP can be reused after sterilization, and the device has been shown to provide accurate results comparable to conventional methods. The VT-integrated MAP device offers a promising solution for rapid, non-invasive ISF analysis, with potential applications in decentralized personal healthcare.