Encoded Microneedles: Encoded Microneedle Arrays for Detection of Skin Interstitial Fluid Biomarkers (Adv. Mater. 37/2019)

In article number 1902825, Yuanjin Zhao and co-workers present encoded microneedle arrays (MNs) integrating photonic crystal (PhC) barcodes for multiplex specific detection of skin interstitial fluid biomarkers. In the skin interstitial fluid, where various biomarkers disperse, only specific biomarkers are attracted and enriched by the encoded microneedles. These biomarkers can be distinguished by reflection peaks of the barcodes and their relative content can be read out through the fluorescence intensity. The specificity, multiplicity, efficiency, and biosafety make the encoded microneedles ideal in many biomedical areas.