A team of researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet has created a new approach for detecting malignant melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer.

According to the researchers, the approach includes a patch outfitted with microneedles capable of detecting tyrosinase — an enzyme that is a biomarker for malignant melanoma — directly in the skin.

Illustration of smart probe modified epidermal microneedle sensor patch. Representative demonstration of skin melanosis on the back of the female patient. Source: Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202403758Illustration of smart probe modified epidermal microneedle sensor patch. Representative demonstration of skin melanosis on the back of the female patient. Source: Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202403758

Using the microneedle patch to measure the enzyme's levels directly in the skin will reportedly enable healthcare workers to quickly identify changes linked to the disease, the researchers explained.

To test the new patch, the team applied tyrosinase directly to the skin of healthy individuals to mimic the presence of skin cancer.

The team suggests that the new patch could one day be an alternative to current diagnostics, potentially leading to earlier detection and treatment of malignant melanoma.

"Our method is less invasive and has the potential to provide faster and more reliable results compared to traditional biopsies," the team added. "Our goal is to continue developing and improving this technique to offer more accurate and painless diagnostics."

An article detailing the patch, “Transdermal Sensing of Enzyme Biomarker Enabled by Chemo‐Responsive Probe‐Modified Epidermal Microneedle Patch in Human Skin Tissue,“ appears in the journal Advanced Materials.

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