Wearable Nanoneedle Biosensors

Test Bed Vision:

“To apply nanoneedle array sensor technology to detect markers of tumour recurrence”

The need for rapid accurate diagnosis of metastatic disease has become a major priority to facilitate more timely and efficacious intervention. This project aims to extend our silicon nanoneedle array platform to enable detection of specific cancer biomarkers from the skin in a minimally invasive manner. Using electrochemical biosensing technology, the nanoneedle array can be worn as a wearable device to facilitate the detection of early tumour recurrence.

The nanoneedle array platform was originally developed for drug delivery across the skin, to provide a minimally invasive technology that overcomes some of the inherent risks and discomfort of hypodermical needles. However there is great potential for these platforms to be used as devices for diagnostics.

While nanoneedles have been widely explored for vaccine and drug delivery over the past two decades, their potential as a device to probe interstitial fluids remains largely unexplored. This project aims to use nanoneedles to detect specific cancer biomarkers, such as circulating tumour DNA, RNA fragments or chemical signatures, through the skin without causing any pain. The automated detection of these signals enables detection of cancer and metastatic disease at the earliest stages.

This test bed is led by Nico Voelcker, Maria Alba, Helmut Thissen and Stephen Rose from the Health and Biosecurity and Manufacturing Business Units at CSIRO.