Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have unveiled a groundbreaking microneedle patch capable of painlessly sampling the body’s immune responses directly from the skin. This revolutionary device can detect inflammatory signals within minutes and collect specialized immune cells within hours, eliminating the need for invasive blood draws or surgical biopsies.
Currently, the patch is aiding researchers and clinicians in studying immune responses related to aging and skin autoimmunity, including conditions such as vitiligo and psoriasis. Looking forward, it promises to simplify tracking how individuals respond to vaccines, infections, and cancer therapies, complementing traditional methods while offering a less invasive alternative for patients.
Transforming Immune Monitoring Practices
The study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, highlights the potential of this technology to transform immune monitoring.
“Traditionally, studying some of the most important immune cells in the body requires a skin biopsy or blood draws. Because many of these cells live and respond in tissues like the skin, accessing them has meant invasive procedures,”
said Sasan Jalili, a biomedical engineer and immunologist at JAX.
“We’ve shown we can capture them painlessly and noninvasively instead. This is especially important in sensitive or visible areas like the face or neck, where people often don’t want biopsies because of scarring, as well as for older adults, frail patients, and very young children or infants.”
Initially developed during Jalili’s postdoctoral training at MIT, the platform has been further refined and advanced from mouse models to clinical application at JAX, through collaborations with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan).
Leveraging the Body’s Natural Defenses
Most current tests for monitoring immune cells and inflammatory biomarkers rely on bloodwork. However, many of the cells that recognize specific infections, vaccines, or autoimmune triggers circulate only sparsely in blood. The patch capitalizes on resident memory T cells, immune sentinels residing in skin and other “barrier” tissues, which rapidly respond to previously encountered foreign threats.
By triggering this natural immune response, the researchers were able to assess immune responses dynamically. The sampled material provided insights into the number and state of T cells and other signaling molecules, offering a real-time snapshot of the immune system’s strength and responsiveness.
Jalili explained,
“In this study, we used antigen-specific T cells as a proof of concept, but the patch also captures other immune cells and inflammatory biomarkers.”
In mouse vaccination models, the patch significantly enhanced the recovery of antigen-specific T cells, recruiting many of these cells from the bloodstream rather than the skin.
Expanding the Immune Monitoring Toolbox
The patch absorbs immune cells and signaling proteins from the skin after resident memory T cells are briefly reactivated with a small amount of antigen. It contains hundreds of microscopic needles made of an FDA-approved polymer, coated with a seaweed-derived hydrogel that absorbs immune cells and molecules from skin interstitial fluid. The microneedles reach only the upper skin layers, causing minimal irritation and avoiding damage to nerves or blood vessels.
While blood tests and biopsies remain essential, additional studies are underway to evaluate the patch’s performance across various diseases and patient populations. Darrell Irvine, an immunologist and bioengineer at Scripps Research, noted,
“Not only did we run extensive preclinical experiments, we were able to carry out an initial test in humans. That’s exciting because it almost never happens with brand-new technologies. Moving new technologies from the lab to testing on patients often takes years.”
The patch may prove particularly beneficial for skin conditions, as immune cells driving conditions such as allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo already reside in the tissue. Jalili is already utilizing it to study how age-related skin changes contribute to chronic inflammation and frailty in older adults as part of the Pepper Scholars Program in the UConn School of Medicine and UConn Center on Aging.
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, the patch could facilitate at-home monitoring, enabling patients with skin conditions to track unpredictable flare-ups. The technology could also be adapted for use in oral or nasal cavities, paving the way for monitoring mucosal immune responses.
Jalili emphasized the convenience of the technology, stating,
“People wouldn’t need hours of sampling. Even 15 to 30 minutes can be enough to detect inflammatory signals and get a sense of what’s happening in the tissue.”
Other contributors to this study include researchers from MIT, UMass Chan, The Jackson Laboratory, and The Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital. The work was supported by the NIH, The Jackson Laboratory, the Ragon Institute, and the Koch Institute Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute. A patent application related to the data presented has been filed by MIT.
