‘Smart patch’ could be used to detect Alzheimer's

This breakthrough in the advancement of transdermal capability would mean ‘smart patches’ could be used to detect certain biomarkers within skin interstitial fluid (ISF). 

These patches are comprised of arrays microneedles designed to break the skin barrier – in a minimally invasive manner - and monitor the biomarkers of clinical significance. They can be self-administered for point-of-care diagnosis at GP practices or at home.

In a statement, Swansea’s Dr Sanjiv Sharma, who previously developed the world’s first COVID-19 ‘smart patch’, said: “The skin is the largest organ in the body – it contains more ISF than the total volume of blood. This fluid is an ultrafiltrate of blood and holds biomarkers that complement other biofluids such as sweat, saliva, and urine. It can be sampled in a minimally invasive manner and used either for point-of-care testing or real time using microneedle devices.

MORE FROM MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE

“We employed microneedle array-based biosensing patches as wearable transdermal sensors to detect the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. IL-6 is present in the skin ISF with other cytokines and is implicated in many clinical states including neurodegenerative diseases and fatal pneumonia from SARSCoV 2.  We have been able to detect IL-6 at concentrations as low as 1pg/mL in synthetic skin ISF, indicating its utility for routine point of care, bloodless measurements in simpler settings, worldwide.”