Synthesis-free swellable hydrogel microneedles for rapid interstitial fluid extraction and on-site glucose detection via an electrochemical biosensor system

Khaled Mohammed Saifullah; Pouria Azarikhah; Zahra Faraji Rad

doi:10.1016/j.mtchem.2025.102661

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Synthesis-free swellable hydrogel microneedles for rapid interstitial fluid extraction and on-site glucose detection via an electrochemical biosensor system

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Synthesis-free swellable hydrogel microneedles for rapid interstitial fluid extraction and on-site glucose detection via an electrochemical biosensor system

Khaled Mohammed Saifullah, Pouria Azarikhah and Zahra Faraji Rad

Materials Today Chemistry, Vol.45, pp.1-17

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtchem.2025.102661

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Abstract

Biomarker detection

Electrochemical biosensor

Glucose detection

ISF

Skin applicator

Swellable microneedles

Current methods to detect biomarkers often involve lengthy turnaround times due to the need for blood extraction and subsequent laboratory analysis. Microneedles (MNs) offer a minimally invasive solution to access the interstitial fluid (ISF); however, they are limited by challenges such as hazardous material synthesis, insertion techniques, small ISF volumes (2–5 μL), and lengthy extraction time. This study presents a novel swellable MN patch combined with a biosensing platform to enable on-site glucose detection through an optimized applicator-assisted insertion method. The highly efficient MN patch extracts up to 7.06 ± 0.44 μL of ISF in 5 min without the typical post-processing instruments such as vacuum or suction. The extracted ISF is applied to the modified electrodes, which detect the target biomarker (glucose) with high sensitivity (9.68 μA mM −1 cm −2) and a low detection limit (0.08 mM) under optimized conditions. In addition to effectively recovering glucose molecules, the MN patch demonstrates enhanced efficiency and penetration depth, with a critical correlation established between the volume of extracted ISF and the glucose recovery rate, as validated through comprehensive in-vitro and ex-vivo tests. This MN-based biosensing approach could offer a viable alternative to traditional blood tests, glucometers, finger-prick methods, or continuous monitoring devices.

Details

Title: Synthesis-free swellable hydrogel microneedles for rapid interstitial fluid extraction and on-site glucose detection via an electrochemical biosensor system
Authors: Khaled Mohammed Saifullah - University of Southern Queensland
Pouria Azarikhah - University of Southern Queensland
Zahra Faraji Rad (Corresponding Author) - University of Southern Queensland
Publication details: Materials Today Chemistry, Vol.45, pp.1-17
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2025.102661
ISSN: 2468-5194
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991140404902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

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