Issue 22, 2023

PEDOT coated microneedles towards electrochemically assisted skin sampling

Abstract

Skin sampling is a diagnostic procedure based on the analysis of extracted skin tissues and/or the observation of biomarkers in bodily fluids. Sampling using microneedles (MNs) that minimize invasiveness is gaining attention over conventional biopsy/blood lancet. In this study, new MNs for electrochemically assisted skin sampling are reported, specifically tailored for combined skin tissue biopsy and interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction. To overcome risks associated with using metal MNs, a highly electroactive, mechanically flexible, and biocompatible organic conducting polymer (CP) coated onto plastic is chosen as an alternative. Two different variants of doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are coated on polymethyl methacrylate and used in combination as a MN pair with subsequent testing via a variety of electrochemical techniques to (i) give real-time information of the MN penetration depth into the skin, and (ii) yield new information on various salts present in the ISF. The MN skin sampler shows the ability to extract ions from the hydrated excised skin as a step towards in vivo ISF extraction. The presence of ions was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This added chemical information in conjunction with the existing biomarker analysis increases opportunity for disease/condition detection. For example, in the case of psoriasis, information about salt in the skin is invaluable in combination with pathogenic gene expression for diagnosis.

Graphical abstract: PEDOT coated microneedles towards electrochemically assisted skin sampling

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Mac 2023
Accepted
05 Mei 2023
First published
08 Mei 2023

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 5021-5031

PEDOT coated microneedles towards electrochemically assisted skin sampling

S. M. Ajmal Mokhtar, M. Yamada, T. W. Prow, M. Moore, X. L. Strudwick and D. R. Evans, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 5021 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB00485F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements