Enhancing detection accuracy via controlled release of 3D-printed microlattice nasopharyngeal swabs

Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab is one of the most effective sampling devices for clinical specimens. However, commercial NP swabs often release samples through diluents, lowering analyte concentration and causing inaccurate detections. Here, we developed 3D-printed open-cell microlattice NP swabs with user-friendly high-efficiency controlled sample release (CR) mode. Compared with traditional NP swabs, our microlattice NP swabs show higher (~7–11 times) flexibility, larger (~2.3 times) and customizable release volume, higher (dozens to thousands of times) release concentration, high recovery efficiency (~100%), and the ability to quantify analyte levels. Our microlattice NP swabs have been thus demonstrated to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of antibody detection experiments using rapid detection kits. This study offers a promising approach to enhance sensitivity and accuracy in clinical specimen detections, and is beneficial to inspire the design of a wider range of biomedical devices based on 3D-printed microlattice metamaterials.

Ran Xiao, Jiaheng Li, Yue Fung Wong, Lok Ting Chu, Yingxin Zhu, Liqiang Wang, Minghui Wu, Dingkun Zhang, Meng Gong, Joseph Lai, Kannie W. Y. Chan, Rong Fan, Ting-Hsuan Chen, Yang Lu