Journal of Infectious Diseases and Diagnosis

Advancing Infectious Disease Diagnostics at Point-of-Care with Microneedle Technology

Leen Alkharrat^* Department of Virology, University of Carabobo, Naguanagua, Carabobo, Venezuela
^*Correspondence: Leen Alkharrat, Department of Virology, University of Carabobo, Naguanagua, Carabobo, Venezuela, Email:

Received: 01-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JIDD-23-20790; Editor assigned: 03-Mar-2023, Pre QC No. JIDD-23-20790 (PQ); Reviewed: 17-Mar-2023, QC No. JIDD-23-20790; Revised: 24-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JIDD-23-20790 (R); Published: 31-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2576-389X.23.08.209

About the Study

Microneedle-based devices are a promising technology for pointof- care infectious disease diagnostics. These devices use tiny needles, typically less than a millimeter in length, to collect blood or other bodily fluids from a patient's skin. The collected fluid can then be analyzed to detect the presence of infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. There are several advantages of using microneedle-based devices for infectious disease diagnostics. First, these devices are minimally invasive and do not require a large volume of blood or other bodily fluids. This makes them well-suited for use in resource-limited settings, where access to traditional diagnostic technologies may be limited.

Second, microneedle-based devices can be used to collect fluid samples from specific areas of the body, such as the skin, which may be more directly related to the site of infection. This can improve the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test, leading to more accurate results. Finally, microneedle-based devices are portable and easy to use, making them suitable for use in point-of-care settings such as clinics, hospitals, and field locations. This can reduce the time and cost associated with transporting samples to centralized laboratories for analysis.

There are several different types of microneedle-based devices that have been developed for infectious disease diagnostics. One type of device uses hollow micro needles to collect blood samples. These devices can be used to collect a small amount of blood, which can then be analyzed using traditional diagnostic techniques such as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Another type of device uses solid microneedles to collect interstitial fluid from the skin. This fluid contains proteins and other biomarkers that can be used to diagnose infectious diseases. The collected fluid can be analyzed using a variety of diagnostic techniques, including ELISAs, PCR, and mass spectrometry. Several companies and research groups are currently developing microneedle-based devices for infectious disease diagnostics. For example, a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a microneedlebased device that can detect the presence of dengue virus in interstitial fluid collected from the skin. The device uses a paperbased assay to detect the virus, and the results can be read using a smartphone app.

Another example is the Microneedle Array Patch (MAP) developed by Vaxxas, which uses a patch with thousands of micron-scale needles to deliver vaccines and collect interstitial fluid for diagnostic testing. The MAP technology has been shown to be effective in delivering influenza vaccines and has potential for use in other infectious disease vaccines and diagnostics. While microneedle-based devices have many potential advantages for infectious disease diagnostics, there are also some challenges that need to be addressed. One challenge is the need for sensitive and specific diagnostic assays that can be used with small volume samples. The development of such assays is an active area of research. Another challenge is the need to ensure that the devices are safe and reliable for use in point-ofcare settings. The use of microneedles carries a risk of infection and other adverse events, and it is important to develop devices that minimize these risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these devices offer several advantages over traditional diagnostic technologies, including minimally invasive sampling, improved sensitivity and specificity, and portability. However, there are also several challenges that need to be addressed before these devices can be widely adopted. Future research should focus on the development of sensitive and specific diagnostic assays, as well as the optimization of device design for safety and reliability in point-of-care settings.