An official website of the United States government
Abstract Although increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of non‐invasive wearable electrochemical sweat sensors for monitoring physiological and metabolic information, most of them still suffer from poor stability and specificity over time and fluctuating temperatures. This study reports the design and fabrication of a long‐term stable and highly sensitive flexible electrochemical sensor based on nanocomposite‐modified porous graphene by facile laser treatment for detecting biomarkers such as glucose in sweat. The laser‐reduced and patterned stable conductive nanocomposite on the porous graphene electrode provides the resulting glucose sensor with an excellent sensitivity of 1317.69 µA mm−1cm−2and an ultra‐low limit of detection of 0.079 µm. The sensor can also detect pH and exhibit extraordinary stability to maintain more than 91% sensitivity over 21 days in ambient conditions. Taken together with a temperature sensor based on the same material system, the dual glucose and pH sensor integrated with a flexible microfluidic sweat sampling network further results in accurate continuous on‐body glucose detection calibrated by the simultaneously measured pH and temperature. The low‐cost, highly sensitive, and long‐term stable platform could facilitate the early identification and continuous monitoring of different biomarkers for non‐invasive disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
more »
« less
Printed microfluidic sweat sensing platform for cortisol and glucose detection
Wearable sweat biosensors offer compelling opportunities for improved personal health monitoring and non-invasive measurements of key biomarkers. Inexpensive device fabrication methods are necessary for scalable manufacturing of portable, disposable, and flexible sweat sensors. Furthermore, real-time sweat assessment must be analyzed to validate measurement reliability at various sweating rates. Here, we demonstrate a “smart bandage” microfluidic platform for cortisol detection and continuous glucose monitoring integrated with a synthetic skin. The low-cost, laser-cut microfluidic device is composed of an adhesive-based microchannel and solution-processed electrochemical sensors fabricated from inkjet-printed graphene and silver solutions. An antibody-derived cortisol sensor achieved a limit of detection of 10 pM and included a low-voltage electrowetting valve, validating the microfluidic sensor design under typical physiological conditions. To understand effects of perspiration rate on sensor performance, a synthetic skin was developed using soft lithography to mimic human sweat pores and sweating rates. The enzymatic glucose sensor exhibited a range of 0.2 to 1.0 mM, a limit of detection of 10 μM, and reproducible response curves at flow rates of 2.0 μL min −1 and higher when integrated with the synthetic skin, validating its relevance for human health monitoring. These results demonstrate the potential of using printed microfluidic sweat sensors as a low-cost, real-time, multi-diagnostic device for human health monitoring.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2039268
- PAR ID:
- 10379062
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Lab on a Chip
- Volume:
- 22
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1473-0197
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 156 to 169
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Recent advances in skin-interfaced wearable sweat sensors enable the noninvasive, real-time monitoring of biochemical signals associated with health and wellness. These wearable platforms leverage microfluidic channels, biochemical sensors, and flexible electronics to enable the continuous analysis of sweat-based biomarkers such as electrolytes, metabolites, and hormones. As this field continues to mature, the potential of low-cost, continuous personalized health monitoring enabled by such wearable sensors holds significant promise for addressing some of the formidable obstacles to delivering comprehensive medical care in under-resourced settings. This Perspective highlights the transformative potential of wearable sweat sensing for providing equitable access to cutting-edge healthcare diagnostics, especially in remote or geographically isolated areas. It examines the current understanding of sweat composition as well as recent innovations in microfluidic device architectures and sensing strategies by showcasing emerging applications and opportunities for innovation. It concludes with a discussion on expanding the utility of wearable sweat sensors for clinically relevant health applications and opportunities for enabling equitable access to innovation to address existing health disparities.more » « less
-
Abstract Although continuous and non‐invasive measurements of sweat biomarkers may provide vital health information, sweat collection often involves intense physical activities or chemical/thermal stimuli. The natural body sweat during endogenous metabolic or stress processes, secreted at much lower rates at rest, may be continuously analyzed using microfluidic devices integrated with hydrophilic rigid fillers; however, the sweat uptake and accumulation in thermoregulatory processes take too long for near‐real‐time measurements. This work provides an innovative body fluid collection strategy using a granular hydrogel scaffold (GHS), facilitating osmotic and capillary effects to uptake and transfer an ultralow amount of sweat into a microfluidic device at rest. Taken together with a spiral microfluidic channel, the GHS‐embedded microfluidics reduce the evaporation of collected sweat and store it in a sensing well for near‐real‐time measurements. Integrating the sweat‐collecting system with an enzymatic gold‐graphene nanocomposite‐modified laser‐induced graphene (LIG) electrode and a LIG‐based pH sensor enables the accurate continuous on‐body detection of sweat lactate during normal daily activities at a low perspiration rate. The novel combination of a GHS‐integrated microfluidic system with a low‐cost, flexible, sensitive, and stable LIG‐based sensing system provides an accessible technology for sweat‐based biosensing during normal daily activities.more » « less
-
null (Ed.)Perspiration level monitoring enables numerous applications such as physical condition estimation, personal comfort monitoring, health/exercise monitoring, and inference of environmental conditions of the user. Prior works on perspiration (sweat) sensing require users to manually hold a device or attach adhesive sensors directly onto their skin, limiting user mobility and comfort. In this paper, we present a low-cost and novel wearable sensor system that is able to accurately estimate an individual's sweat level based on measuring moisture. The sensor is designed in a threadlike form factor, allowing it to be sewn into the seams of clothing, rather than having to act as a standalone sensor that the user must attach to their body. The system is comprised of multiple cotton-covered conductive threads that are braided into one sensor. When a person sweats, the resistance between the braided conductive threads changes as moisture becomes trapped in the cotton covering of the threads. The braided three-dimensional structure allows for robust estimation of perspiration level in the presence of external forces that may cause sensor distortion, such as motion. We characterize the relationship between the volume of sweat and measured resistance between the braided threads. Finally, we weave our sensors into the fabric of a shirt and conduct on-body experiments to study users' sweating level through various activities.more » « less
-
Wearable sweat biosensors have shown great progress in noninvasive, in situ, and continuous health monitoring to demonstrate individuals’ physiological states. Advances in novel nanomaterials and fabrication methods promise to usher in a new era of wearable biosensors. Here, we introduce a threedimensional (3D)-printed flexible wearable health monitor fabricated through a unique one-step continuous manufacturing process with self-supporting microfluidic channels and novel single-atom catalyst-based bioassays for measuring the sweat rate and concentration of three biomarkers. Direct ink writing is adapted to print the microfluidic device with self-supporting structures to harvest human sweat, which eliminates the need for removing sacrificial supporting materials and addresses the contamination and sweat evaporation issues associated with traditional sampling methods. Additionally, the pick-and-place strategy is employed during the printing process to accurately integrate the bioassays, improving manufacturing efficiency. A single-atom catalyst is developed and utilized in colorimetric bioassays to improve sensitivity and accuracy. A feasibility study on human skin successfully demonstrates the functionality and reliability of our health monitor, generating reliable and quantitative in situ results of sweat rate, glucose, lactate, and uric acid concentrations during physical exercise.more » « less
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00633A
