Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector
Sustainable and renewable approaches in biomaterial-based integrated dried urine sampling/solid-phase extraction devices for drugs and metabolites: challenges, bioanalytical applications, and future directions
Urine samples are gaining increasing importance as preferred biological matrices in bioanalytical studies due to their non-invasive collection, abundance, and ability to reflect systemic metabolism. However, conventional urine sampling and storage methods face significant challenges, especially in resource-limited areas where transportation and preservation infrastructure are inadequate. Traditional methods of liquid urine collection require refrigeration to prevent analyte degradation, making long-term storage and global sample transport costly and impractical. Biomaterial-based integrated dried urine sampling (DUS) devices integrate both storage and extraction into a single-step process, significantly enhancing efficiency and reliability. The porous sorbent is designed with a high surface area and tailored molecular binding capacity, ensuring the selective adsorption of target metabolites while minimizing matrix effects. Its structure allows for rapid drying and ambient-temperature storage, eliminating the need for cold-chain logistics. This feature is particularly beneficial for field studies and resource-constrained settings where maintaining refrigeration is impractical. Biomaterial-based DUS devices could be cost-effective and customizable and enable long-term stabilization of urinary metabolites. By reducing drying times, enhancing analyte recovery, and improving storage conditions, this technology enhances the feasibility of large-scale bioanalytical studies, therapeutic drug monitoring, and clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, its ability to selectively extract metabolites streamlines laboratory workflows and improves overall analytical precision. Porous biomaterial-based DUS devices could present a transformative, sustainable, and renewable solution for bioanalysis. By addressing the critical issues of sample stability, extraction efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, this approach has the potential to revolutionize metabolomics research, personalized medicine, and biomarker discovery in both clinical and research settings.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nº 768737
