Metal–Organic Framework‐Preserved Thermostable Microneedle Patch for Minimally Invasive Detection and Monitoring of Kidney Dysfunction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Early and decentralized biomarker detection and monitoring is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention, particularly in kidney disorders that often progress asymptomatically until irreversible damage has occurred. Here, we present a thermally resilient metal‐organic framework encapsulated microneedle (MOF@MN) sensing platform that integrates minimally invasive dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) sampling and on‐needle detection with MOF‐based biostabilization of the sensing interface. A thin zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) shell is grown in situ on antibody‐functionalized microneedles, preserving the bioactivity of immobilized antibodies after 4 weeks of thermal cycling up to 50°C and maintaining full analytical performance after prolonged unrefrigerated shipment. This interfacial encapsulation strategy enables quantitative detection of neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL), an early biomarker of kidney injury, directly from dermal ISF over a broad clinically relevant range. In a mouse model and human subjects, MOF@MN‐derived NGAL measurements closely mirror blood NGAL concentrations, precede changes in conventional renal function markers, and correlate well with histopathological injury severity, highlighting their potential for subclinical monitoring. Collectively, this study establishes conformal MOF encapsulation as a simple and highly effective strategy for engineering environmentally resilient sensing interfaces and provides a scalable route to cold‐chain‐independent, minimally invasive biosensing for decentralized and at‐home health monitoring.