Capture the Flags: Monitoring Disease-Associated Immune Activity

Capture the Flags: Monitoring Disease-Associated Immune Activity

Sasan Jalili, Ryan Hosn, Julian Rojo, David Mankus, Margaret Bisher, Abigail Lytton-Jean, Paula T. Hammond, Darrell J. Irvine 

Koch Institute at MIT

A microneedle patch developed by the Hammond and Irvine Labs non-invasively samples biomarkers and immune cell populations in skin. By analyzing the cells and surrounding tissue, researchers aim to classify the immune signatures of various disease stages, including autoimmune skin conditions and hard-to-detect ovarian cancers.

Highlighted here are immune cells (colored purple to represent gender equity and women’s health) collected by the needles’ seaweed-based coating (gray). The device is now being used in preclinical and clinical settings on three continents.

a gray clay-like field with clusters of round, ridged purple cells scattered throughout

Video

Sasan Jalili presents on his image.

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