A strain-insensitive multiplexed soft microneedle patch for robust interstitial fluid biomarker monitoring

Wearable microneedle sensors analyze biomarkers in situ from interstitial fluids (ISF), enabling minimally invasive, precise, and continuous monitoring of metabolic diseases. However, conventional designs either lack adequate conformability to skin or suffer from electrode fractures during skin penetration and body motion, leading to signal instability that undermines reliable multiparameter acquisition. Here, we present a fully integrated system with a soft microneedle sensor array featuring nano-hill topographies on strain-resilient electrodes to delocalize strain via geometric confinement. This design reduces signal variability by 14-fold compared to conventional designs, enabling stable, simultaneous in situ monitoring of multiple ISF biomarkers. It achieves clinical-grade accuracy for continuous glucose monitoring (mean absolute relative difference of 10.8%) and captures dynamic synchronized variations in glucose, local tissue pH, and temperature in a living subject in real time. The system integrates a reusable electronic module with a disposable microneedle array with a sensor footprint of just 1.8 cm 2 . By combining high signal stability with multiparameter synchrony in a compact form factor, this system offers a practical solution for reliable, real-time ISF analysis under dynamic in vivo conditions.

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Publication Details

Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2026-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2611528123
Primary Topic
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A strain-insensitive multiplexed soft microneedle patch for robust interstitial fluid biomarker monitoring

Lanfeng Liang, Chwee Teck Lim, Zixiong Wu, Leigh Edward Madden et al.
4 links
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
article

A strain-insensitive multiplexed soft microneedle patch for robust interstitial fluid biomarker monitoring

Lanfeng Liang, Chwee Teck Lim, Zixiong Wu, Leigh Edward Madden, David Laurence Becker, Mui Ling Sharon Nai, Changsheng Wu, Qiao Zheng, Zhijie Li, Shuwen Chen, Baobao Lin, Shuoyan Liu, Shicheng Fan
article en

Abstract

Wearable microneedle sensors analyze biomarkers in situ from interstitial fluids (ISF), enabling minimally invasive, precise, and continuous monitoring of metabolic diseases. However, conventional designs either lack adequate conformability to skin or suffer from electrode fractures during skin penetration and body motion, leading to signal instability that undermines reliable multiparameter acquisition. Here, we present a fully integrated system with a soft microneedle sensor array featuring nano-hill topographies on strain-resilient electrodes to delocalize strain via geometric confinement. This design reduces signal variability by 14-fold compared to conventional designs, enabling stable, simultaneous in situ monitoring of multiple ISF biomarkers. It achieves clinical-grade accuracy for continuous glucose monitoring (mean absolute relative difference of 10.8%) and captures dynamic synchronized variations in glucose, local tissue pH, and temperature in a living subject in real time. The system integrates a reusable electronic module with a disposable microneedle array with a sensor footprint of just 1.8 cm 2 . By combining high signal stability with multiparameter synchrony in a compact form factor, this system offers a practical solution for reliable, real-time ISF analysis under dynamic in vivo conditions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesVol. 123(44)
National University of Singapore (SG), Nanyang Technological University (SG), Mechanobiology Institute (SG), Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (SG), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
National University of Singapore, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
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