Evaluating melting gel coatings for wearable metabolic sensors

Abstract

New steps have been taken toward finalizing a novel wearable sensor for entirely non-invasive, continuous blood sugar monitoring via the low concentrations of acetone continuously emitted from human skin as a byproduct of metabolic activity. This sensor is based on a chemo-mechanical actuating polymer composite of the well-known conducting polymer polyaniline and cellulose acetate, which is a simple derivative of the incredibly proliferous and benign organic compound cellulose. The improvements reported here revolve around the application of a 65% methyltriethoxysilane – 35% dimethyldiethoxysilane melting gel to one side of the sensor, thereby isolating the sensor from ambient air and any interferents it might contain. Visual inspection shows that the melting gel does not prohibit functionality of the existing polyaniline-cellulose acetate sensor, and FTIR spectroscopy shows that no significant chemical changes are caused by application of the melting gel to the polyaniline-cellulose acetate sensor. • Composite-material wearable metabolic sensors continuously monitor skin-gas emissions. • Novel sensors are chemo-mechanical actuating polyaniline-cellulose acetate composite. • Organically modified siloxane melting gels create impermeable hydrophobic barrier. • Melting gel coatings are applied and consolidated without damaging composite sensors.