Research Progress in Wearable Microneedle Sensors for Health Analysis

ABSTRACT In this modern era, wearable biosensors have emerged as a significant innovation in specialized personal healthcare. While smartphones and smartwatches today can easily measure vital signs and mobility, a new generation of wearable technology quickly emerges, allowing users to monitor their health metrics at the molecular level. Wearable electrochemical microneedle biosensors show the capability of detecting analytes and metabolites in interstitial fluid with minimal invasiveness. The use of microneedle sensing technology revolutionises biosensing techniques and opens new avenues for advancing current biosensors. In situ extraction, monitoring, and painless injection become possible through microneedle biosensors. However, there remains a need for improvement in detection accuracy and accessibility. This review begins with a discussion on the introduction and a comprehensive background of microneedle technology. It then explores different types of microneedles and fabrication methods. Various sensing modalities for microneedle biosensors, such as electrical, electrochemical, Raman, and colorimetric methods, are also discussed. Finally, the practical applications of wearable microneedle biosensors in various fields are examined, followed by a comprehensive conclusion and prospects.