Mathematical Model for Rationalising Microneedle-based Biosensor Design

Microneedles (MNs) are micron-scale and minimally invasive medical devices that can penetrate the skin's outer layer without reaching deeper tissues, such as nerve endings. The development and translation of MNs to meet the clinical and market needs require several steps, from the initial concept design and fabrication to regulatory approval and market introduction. Mathematical model (MM) is acknowledged for contributing significantly by providing cost-efficient insights into these steps. For example, physically-based MM can optimise the MN penetration depths in skin and material properties at the pre-fabrication stage, ensuring they can effectively deliver drugs or detect biological markers/parameters. However, the current studies on MN-based biosensors rely on ad-hoc fabrication of the MNs, calibrating them for particular skin micro-environments and analysing their responses, and there is a lack of rigorous MMs that can enhance the experimental results and rationalise their designs (e.g., MN geometry and density in an array). With in-depth expertise of different domains residing in research groups in various parts of the world, increased collaboration and cross-fertilisation of ideas and expertise among these groups (e.g., experts of MN fabrication for biosensing and MM), both nationally and internationally, can remove the current gaps and accelerate the development and application of MNs to meet clinical needs. In addressing these points, the overseas travel grant (OTG) aims to accelerate the UK’s collaboration with the USA as a leading nation in MN research and application, with a central focus on identifying a concrete scope and pathway for developing MM for MN biosensors. The OTG also aims to provide Das (project lead) with a dedicated research environment at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, USA, to gain first-hand experience of MN biosensors and conceptualise an MM for a MN-based biosensor. With a proven strong track-record in MM of MNs, Das is motivated to experience and enter into research on MN-based biosensing, a new research topic for Das, with the help of the OTG. He has worked extensively on MM of MNs for TDD in the last 20 years, where his focus has been on designing, modelling, and optimising MNs using different MM approaches and studying combinational techniques, e.g., MNs with ultrasound to enhance TDD. Das proposes to use his overseas travel now since there are significant research needs for MN-based biosensors, such as how to rationalise their design. Addressing these research challenges in a timely manner can avoid the potential development of erroneous MNBs. With Das’ work MM for TDD maturing well, it is an ideal time for him to expand his work and develop MM for MN-based biosensors. Travelling now will open up new collaborative opportunities to co-develop these ideas with world-leading scientists and generate significant future impacts for himself and the UK on MN-based biosensors. The USA is one of the UKRI’s strategic international funding partners and is home to significant cutting-edge research and expertise on MNs for biosensing. An in-person presence is essential for networking with potential collaborators to co-develop transnational projects (e.g., EPSRC-NSF projects).