Revolutionizing Blood Collection: Innovations, Applications, and the Potential of Microsampling Technologies for Monitoring Metabolites and Lipids

Abstract

Blood serves as the primary global biological matrix for health surveillance, disease diagnosis, and response to drug treatment, holding significant promise for personalized medicine. The diverse array of lipids and metabolites in the blood provides a snapshot of both physiological and pathological processes, with many routinely monitored during conventional wellness checks. The conventional method involves intravenous blood collection, extracting a few milliliters via venipuncture, a technique limited to clinical settings due to its dependence on trained personnel. Microsampling methods have evolved to be less invasive (collecting ≤150 µL of capillary blood), user-friendly (enabling self-collection), and suitable for remote collection in longitudinal studies. Dried blood spot (DBS), a pioneering microsampling technique, dominates clinical and research domains. Recent advancements in device technology address critical limitations of classical DBS, specifically variations in hematocrit and volume. This review presents a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art microsampling devices, emphasizing their applications and potential for monitoring metabolites and lipids in blood. The scope extends to diverse areas, encompassing population studies, nutritional investigations, drug discovery, sports medicine, and multi-omics research.