2026-01-07 東京科学大学
<関連情報>
- https://www.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/press/pr2026-01-07-001
- https://www.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/hubfs/press-release/2026/0107/001/text.pdf
- https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/tb/d5tb00385g
ボロン酸ベースの蛍光ハイドロゲルをナノリットル未満に埋め込んだ光学マイクロニードルデバイスの開発 Development of an optical microneedle device embedding sub-nanoliter volumes of boronic acid-based fluorescent hydrogel
Masahiro Fukuhara,Hiroaki Takehara,Kevin Barthelmes,Benjamin Kersch-Hunt,Jordan E. Gardiner, Yukihiro Kanda,Akira Matsumoto,Tony D. James and Takanori Ichiki
Journal of Materials Chemistry B Published:17 Nov 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TB00385G
Abstract
Although the diagnostic utility of interstitial fluid (ISF) has been extensively explored, collecting and sensing ISF remains challenging. Microneedle devices offer a promising approach as a minimally invasive method to obtain ISF in a small volume or to sense biomolecules in the ISF within the body. However, conventional enzymatic measurements consume target molecules, compromising sensing reliability, especially in a small volume. To overcome the above issue, we developed fluorescence-based optical microneedles for non-consumptive molecular sensing within tiny ISF samples. The optical microneedle was functionalized with a small-volume fluorescent hydrogel block at its tip. The hydrogel block measured 100 µm in diameter and 100 µm in length, with a total volume of 0.79 nL. The microneedle made of amorphous poly-L-lactide (PLLA) had a high-aspect ratio shape (500 µm in base diameter, 200 µm in top diameter, and 2 mm in length), reaching the ISF near the vascular plexus in the reticular layer. In addition, the fluorescent hydrogel was functionalized with boronic acid, which reversibly binds to D-glucose. As proof of our technology, we conducted D-glucose sensing using an optical microneedle. The average value of measurement errors from actual D-glucose concentrations was calculated to be 5.6% in the range of 6.1 to 37.5 mM. Therefore, it was confirmed that the microneedle device is useful for ISF measurements.
