Stiff to Soft: A Protein‐Based Buffer Layer for Improving the Long‐Term Performance of Microneedle Sensors
Abstract
ABSTRACT Long‐term monitoring of electrolyte dynamics is essential for managing chronic diseases. Conventional diagnostic tests are steadily evolving toward greater convenience, personalization, and accuracy, while wearable microneedle sensors offer a compelling alternative. However, their long‐term biocompatibility is hampered by the mechanical stiffness required to penetrate the skin. Here we report a crosslinking–recombination bovine serum albumin (CR‐BSA) coating that undergoes a unique stiff‐to‐soft transition, reconciling insertion capability with tissue compatibility. For Na + sensing, CR‐BSA serves as a functional buffer layer, delivering high sensitivity (70.6 µA/decade) and stability for more than 14 days, while significantly reducing inflammation and fibrosis compared with commercial Nafion coatings. CR‐BSA–coated microneedle sensors achieve reliable continuous monitoring of both acute and chronic hyponatremia and hypernatremia for over five days. This stiff‐to‐soft coating strategy overcomes a central barrier to microneedle sensor integration, advancing the prospects of long‐term, minimally invasive electrolyte monitoring for chronic disease management.
Article Details
Authors (17)
Lihao Guo
Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases Shanghai Jiao Tong University Pioneer Research Institute for Molecular and Cell Therapies Shanghai General Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
Youbin Zheng
Hefei National Research Center for Physical Science at Microscale
Shuxiang Xu
Bingbing Feng
Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases Shanghai Jiao Tong University Pioneer Research Institute for Molecular and Cell Therapies Shanghai General Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
Kan Wang
Rou Huang
School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Xidian University Xi'an China
Gandong Zhou
Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases Shanghai Jiao Tong University Pioneer Research Institute for Molecular and Cell Therapies Shanghai General Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
Chutong Liu
Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases Shanghai Jiao Tong University Pioneer Research Institute for Molecular and Cell Therapies Shanghai General Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
Rawan Omar
Department of Chemical Engineering and Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute Technion‐Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
Danyao Qu
Department of Chemical Engineering and Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute Technion‐Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
Jinbao Li
Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong
Min Zhang
Weiwei Wu
Guangjian Zhang
Lina Huang
Rappaport-Technion Integrated Cancer Center, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology
Hossam Haick
Miaomiao Yuan