Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes driven by complex and multifactorial pathways. Among the cytokines involved in its pathogenesis, interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays a central role in sustaining inflammatory signaling and disease progression, making it a relevant biomarker for disease monitoring and therapeutic management. However, the continuous assessment of such biomarkers remains challenging due to the invasive nature and limited temporal resolution of conventional diagnostic methods. In this context, wearable and minimally invasive biosensing devices have emerged as promising alternatives for real-time monitoring. Microneedle-based platforms are particularly attractive because they enable painless, minimally invasive access to interstitial fluid, enabling in situ biomarker detection. In parallel, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been widely explored as a highly sensitive analytical technique for detecting low concentrations of biomolecules through the localized electromagnetic field enhancement generated by plasmonic nanostructures.
Herein, we report the development of a biopolymer-based microneedle platform composed of silk fibroin and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) for potential SERS-based biosensing applications. Silk fibroin was selected for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and suitability for biomedical interfaces, while WPU was incorporated as a reinforcement phase to enhance the mechanical stability and flexibility of the microneedle structure. To introduce plasmonic functionality, silver nanowires (AgNWs) were selectively incorporated into the microneedle tip region via micromolding. This strategy was designed to promote nanowire exposure at the surface, thereby maximizing interaction between the analyte and the plasmonic substrate while preserving the device's structural integrity.
Morphological characterization by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) confirmed the successful incorporation and spatial distribution of AgNWs in the microneedle tips. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed surface topographical changes associated with nanowire integration and polymer reinforcement. Raman analysis indicated that the synthesized AgNWs exhibited SERS-active behavior, supporting their applicability as plasmonic substrates in the proposed device architecture. Altogether, these results demonstrate the successful fabrication of a mechanically robust, plasmonically active microneedle platform with potential for the future development of wearable biosensors for IL-17 detection in psoriasis monitorin
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Comissão Organizadora
Pedro Alves da Silva Autreto
Comissão Científica
Ferramenta completa de submissão, avaliação e publicação de anais para eventos científicos.
