Sweat Samples Research Articles

Reliability and validity of the MX3 portable sweat sodium analyser during exercise in warm conditions

PurposeAccurately measuring sweat sodium concentration ([Na+]) in the field is advantageous for coaches, scientists, and dieticians looking to tailor hydration strategies. The MX3 hydration testing system is a new portable analyser that uses pre-calibrated biosensors to measure sweat [Na+]. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the MX3 hydration testing system.MethodsThirty-one (11 females) recreationally active participants completed one experimental trial. During this trial, participants exercised at a self-selected pace for 45 min in a warm environment (31.5 ± 0.8 °C, 63.2 ± 1.3% relative humidity). Sweat samples were collected from three measurement sites using absorbent patches. The samples were then analysed for sweat [Na+] using both the MX3 hydration testing system and the Horiba LAQUAtwin-NA-11. The reliability of the MX3 hydration testing system was determined following two measurements of the same sweat sample.ResultsThe mean difference between measurements was 0.1 mmoL·L−1 (95% limits of agreement (LoA): − 9.2, 9.4). The analyser demonstrated a coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.6% and the standard error of measurement was 3.3 mmoL·L−1. When compared to the Horiba LAQUAtwin-NA-11, there was a mean difference of − 1.7 mmoL·L−1 (95% LoA: − 0.25X¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\overline{\ ext{X}}}$$\\end{document}, 0.25X¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\overline{\ ext{X}}}$$\\end{document}) and the CV was 9.8%.ConclusionThe MX3 hydration testing system demonstrated very good single-trial reliability, moderate agreement and a very good CV relative to the Horiba LAQUAtwin-Na-11. To further validate its performance, the MX3 hydration testing system should be compared with analytical techniques known for superior reliability and validity.

A wearable flexible electrochemical biosensor with CuNi-MOF@rGO modification for simultaneous detection of uric acid and dopamine in sweat

BackgroundIn health assessment and personalized medical services, accurate detection of biological markers such as dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) in sweat is crucial for providing valuable physiological information. However, there are challenges in detecting sweat biomarkers due to their low concentrations, variations in sweat yield among individuals, and the need for efficient sweat collection. ResultsWe synthesized CuNi-MOF@rGO as a high-activity electrocatalyst and investigated its feasibility and electrochemical mechanism for simultaneously detecting low-concentration biomarkers UA and DA. Interaction between the non-coordinating carboxylate group and the sample produces effective separation signals for DA and UA. The wearable biomimetic biosensor has a wide linear range of 1–500 μM, with a detection limit of 9.41 μM and sensitivity of 0.019 μA μM−1 cm−2 for DA, and 10–1000 μM, with a detection limit of 9.09 μM and sensitivity of 0.026 μA μM−1 cm−2 for UA. Thus, our sensor performs excellently in detecting low-concentration biomarkers. To improve sweat collection, we designed a microfluidic-controlled device with hydrophilic modification in the microchannel. Experimental results show optimal ink flow at 2% concentration. Overall, we developed an innovative and highly active electrocatalyst, successfully enabling simultaneous detection of low-concentration biomarkers UA and DA. SignificanceThis study provides a strategy for sweat analysis and health monitoring. Moreover, the sensor also showed good performance in detecting real sweat samples. This study has shown great potential in future advances in sweat analysis and health monitoring.

Wearable Sweat Management Technologies

AbstractThe aging population and increasing prevalence of diseases among younger individuals have heightened the pressing demand for wearable health monitoring devices among the general public. In comparison to self‐health monitoring at physical signal level, wearable biochemical monitoring can provide more comprehensive and insightful information regarding one's own health status. Wearable sweat‐sensing technologies hold great potential for non‐invasive and continuous biochemical monitoring, and have emerged as a focal point of wearable health monitoring research. The effective management of sweat, encompassing convenient induction, reliable collection, and efficient flow control and storage, is fundamental in wearable sweat sensing. To elucidate the research progression in these aspects, this review first summarizes sweat secretion mechanisms, induction method, and sampling mode. Additionally, detailed summaries and discussion on sweat sampling and transport modes are provided. Furthermore, within the context of epidermal microfluidics, the technologies on sweat flow control and storage management based on microvalves are discussed. Lastly, current commercialization and key challenges are summarized.

A Wearable Electrochemical Biosensor Utilizing Functionalized Ti3C2Tx MXene for the Real-Time Monitoring of Uric Acid Metabolite.

Wearable, noninvasive sensors enable the continuous monitoring of metabolites in sweat and provide clinical information related to an individual's health and disease states. Uric acid (UA) is a key indicator highly associated with gout, hyperuricaemia, hypertension, kidney disease, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. However, the detection of UA levels typically relies on invasive blood tests. Therefore, developing a wearable device for noninvasive monitoring of UA concentrations in sweat could facilitate real-time personalized disease prevention. Here, we introduce 1,3,6,8-pyrene tetrasulfonic acid sodium salt (PyTS) as a bifunctional molecule functionalized with Ti3C2Tx via π-π conjugation to design nonenzymatic wearable sensors for sensitive and selective detection of UA concentration in human sweat. PyTS@Ti3C2Tx provides many oxidation-reduction active groups to enhance the electrocatalytic ability of the UA oxidation reaction. The PyTS@Ti3C2Tx-based electrochemical sensor demonstrates highly sensitive detection of UA in the concentration range of 5 μM-100 μM, exhibiting a lower detection limit of 0.48 μM compared to the uricase-based sensor (0.84 μM). In volunteers, the PyTS@Ti3C2Tx-based wearable sensor is integrated with flexible microfluidic sweat sampling and wireless electronics to enable real-time monitoring of UA levels during aerobic exercise. Simultaneously, it allows for comparison of blood UA levels via a commercial UA analyzer. Herein, this study provides a promising electrocatalyst strategy for nonenzymatic electrochemical UA sensor, enabling noninvasive real-time monitoring of UA levels in human sweat and personalized disease prevention.

Decentralized touch-based micronutrition sensor towards personalized nutrition: Parallel detection of sweat ascorbic acid and zinc ions

The zinc (Zn) and ascorbic acid (AA) micronutrient duo has received a considerable attention in individual’s nutrition plans, particularly after the recent pandemic, owing to its distinct beneficial impact on boosting the immune system. Accordingly, there are growing needs for frequent and decentralized measurements of the trace element and micronutrient levels towards well-balanced personalized nutrition. Leveraging natural sweat sampling from the fingertip, we describe here a disposable electrochemical sensor array, consisting of neighboring Zn ion (Zn(II)), and AA electrodes, towards parallel touch-based on-site monitoring of dynamically-changing sweat Zn(II), and AA levels, following the intake of the corresponding nutrition supplements.. A highly permeable poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel, placed on the dual-electrode sensor array, served for transferring the sweat from the fingertip onto the electrode surface. Zn(II) measurements were performed on a bismuth/Nafion modified screen printed electrode (SPE) with square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), while the AA detection relied on recording of the open circuit potential (OCP) change, on the tetrathiafulvalene-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ) immobilized SPE. Rapid decentralized measurements of sweat Zn(II) and AA temporal profiles were carried out on the fingertip sweat of healthy subjects after consuming pill supplements in connection to the disposable strip along with hand-held electrochemical analyzer. The utility of the touch-based disposable Zn(II)/AA multisensory platform for parallel measurements of this pair of micronutrients was demonstrated towards personalized nutrition by providing real-time monitoring of the dose-response relationship. Our findings indicate that the new sweat nutrition sensing device holds considerable promise for guiding dietary interventions and enhancing personalized nutrition.

Wireless and battery-free wearable biosensing of riboflavin in sweat for precision nutrition

Nutrition assessment is crucial for dietary guidance and prevention of malnutrition. Recent endeavors in wearable biochemical sensors have enabled real-time, in situ analysis of nutrients in sweat. However, the monitoring of riboflavin, an indispensable vitamin B involved in energy metabolism, remains challenging due to its trace level and variations in the sweat matrix. Herein, we report a wireless, battery-free, and flexible wearable biosensing system for the in situ monitoring of sweat riboflavin. Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical voltammetric detection is realized based on the synergistic effect of electrodeposited reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) with a low detection limit of 1.2 nM. The fully integrated system is capable of sweat sampling with the microfluidic patch, real-time riboflavin analysis and pH calibration with the flexible electrode array, as well as wirelessly simultaneous near field communication (NFC) energy harvesting and data transmission with the flexible circuit and a smartphone. On-body human sweat analysis demonstrates high accuracy cross-validated with gold-standard measurements, and reveals a strong correlation between sweat and urine riboflavin levels. The proposed wearable platform opens up attractive possibilities for noninvasive nutrient tracking, providing strong potential for personalized dietary guidance towards precision nutrition.

A Portable Electrochemical Dopamine Detector Using a Fish Scale-Derived Graphitized Carbon-Modified Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode.

In this paper, a highly conductive alkali-activated graphitized carbon (a-GC) was prepared using tilapia fish scales as precursors through enzymolysis, activation and pyrolytic carbonization methods. The prepared a-GC was modified on the surface of a screen-printed carbon electrode to construct a flexible portable electrochemical sensing platform, which was applied to the differential pulse voltametric detection of dopamine (DA) using a U-disk electrochemical workstation combined with a smart phone and Bluetooth. The prepared a-GC possesses good electrical conductivity, a large specific surface area and abundant active sites, which are beneficial for the electrooxidation of DA molecules and result in excellent sensitivity and high selectivity for DA analysis. Under the optimal conditions, the oxidation peak current of DA increased gradually, with its concentrations in the range from 1.0 μmol/L to 1000.0 μmol/L, with the detection limit as low as 0.25 μmol/L (3S/N). The proposed sensor was further applied to the determination of DA in human sweat samples, with satisfactory results, which provided an opportunity for developing noninvasive early diagnosis and nursing equipment.

Co1.22xNixO4/fMWCNTs-hybrid nanocomposite-based self-adhesive wearable non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor for continuous glucose monitoring in sweat

The development of polymer-based wearable, eco-friendly, and non-invasive sensors has been boosted by the rapid emergence and evolution of soft electronics. However, challenges in the catalysis of glucose and sweat sampling have hampered these advances in the development of efficient wearable glucose sensors. Herein, the porous Co1.22xNixO4 hybrid composite material with interconnecting fMWCNTs, referred to as Co1.22xNixO4/fMWCNTs, was hydrothermally synthesized, and covalently crosslinked into well-patterned, flexible PDMS polymer networks. The hydrophilic fMWCNTs enhanced the anchoring spots for the in situ growth of NiCo–Oxides, which significantly improved the conductive networks and introduced many interface zones with high sensitivity of (1190.9 and 1312.1) µA·mM−1·cm−2, wide linear range of (0.001 − 8.0) mM, low detection limit (20 μM), good long-term stability, and excellent selectivity in alkaline solution. A prototype sensor was fabricated by assembling transparent PDMS film with a hydrophilic membrane of supramolecular double network hydrogel (SP−DN) as adhesive, and breathable substrate for sweat collection. The sensitivity of the calibrated prototype was found to be 1326.83 µA·mM−1·cm−2 with a linear range of ≤ 800 µM, tested in artificial sweat samples. The feasibility of a non-invasive glucose sensor was validated by assembling and testing prototype sensors on multiple volunteers. The SP−DN hydrogel acts as a continuous OH− ion supplier, and makes it possible to oxidize the glucose by metal-oxide-based nano-enzyme. The facile fabrication method and reliability of the results with real blood samples show the potential of the metal-oxide-based sensor prototype as a flexible, and environment-adaptable sensing device.

Rate and predictors of insufficient sweat volume in very young infants after pilocarpine gel iontophoresis: prospective, population-based study

ObjectiveTo verify the rate and predictors of ‘quantity not sufficient’ (QNS) among Brazilian infants younger than 3 months with positive newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF).DesignProspective, population-based study.SettingPublic Statewide...

Enrichment of sweat-derived extracellular vesicles of human and bacterial origin for biomarker identification.

Sweat contains biomarkers for real-time non-invasive health monitoring, but only a few relevant analytes are currently used in clinical practice. In the present study, we investigated whether sweat-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be used as a source of potential protein biomarkers of human and bacterial origin. Methods: By using ExoView platform, electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western blotting we characterized EVs in the sweat of eight volunteers performing rigorous exercise. We compared the presence of EV markers as well as general protein composition of total sweat, EV-enriched sweat and sweat samples collected in alginate skin patches. Results: We identified 1209 unique human proteins in EV-enriched sweat, of which approximately 20% were present in every individual sample investigated. Sweat derived EVs shared 846 human proteins (70%) with total sweat, while 368 proteins (30%) were captured by medical grade alginate skin patch and such EVs contained the typical exosome marker CD63. The majority of identified proteins are known to be carried by EVs found in other biofluids, mostly urine. Besides human proteins, EV-enriched sweat samples contained 1594 proteins of bacterial origin. Bacterial protein profiles in EV-enriched sweat were characterized by high interindividual variability, that reflected differences in total sweat composition. Alginate-based sweat patch accumulated only 5% proteins of bacterial origin. Conclusion: We showed that sweat-derived EVs provide a rich source of potential biomarkers of human and bacterial origin. Use of commercially available alginate skin patches selectively enrich for human derived material with very little microbial material collected.

Skin-interfaced microfluidic sweat collection devices for personalized hydration management through thermal feedback.

Non-electronic wearables that utilize skin-interfaced microfluidic technology have revolutionized the collection and analysis of human sweat, providing valuable biochemical information and indicating body hydration status. However, existing microfluidic devices often require constant monitoring of data during sweat assessment, thereby impeding the user experience and potentially missing anomalous physiological events, such as excessive sweating. Moreover, the complex manufacturing process hampers the scalability and large-scale production of such devices. Herein, we present a self-feedback microfluidic device with a unique dehydration reminder through a cost-effective "CAD-to-3D device" approach. It incorporates two independent systems for sweat collection and thermal feedback, including serpentine microchannels, reservoirs, petal-like bursting valves and heating chambers. The device operates by sequentially collecting sweat in the channels and reservoirs, and then activating thermal stimulators in the heating chambers through breaking the valves, initiating a chemical exothermic reaction. Human trials validate that the devices effectively alert users to potential dehydration by inducing skin thermal sensations triggered by sweat sampling. The proposed device offers facile scalability and customizable fabrication, and holds promise for managing hydration strategies in real-world scenarios, benefiting individuals engaged in sporting activities or exposed to high-temperature settings.

An integrated wearable sticker based on extended-gate AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors for real-time cortisol detection in human sweat.

Cortisol hormone imbalances can be detected through non-invasive sweat monitoring using field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors, which provide rapid and sensitive detection. However, challenges like skin compatibility and integration with sweat collection have hindered FET biosensors as wearable sensing platforms. In this study, we present an integrated wearable sticker for real-time cortisol detection based on an extended-gate AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) combined with a soft bottom substrate and flexible channel for sweat collection. The developed devices exhibit excellent linearity (R2 = 0.990) and a high sensitivity of 1.245 μA dec-1 for cortisol sensing from 1 nM to 100 μM in high-ionic-strength solution, with successful cortisol detection demonstrated using authentic human sweat samples. Additionally, the chip's microminiature design effectively reduces bending impact during the wearable process of traditional soft binding sweat sensors. The extendedgate structure design of the HEMT chip enhances both width-to-length ratio and active sensing area, resulting in an exceptionally low detection limit of 100 fM. Futhermore, due to GaN material's inherent stability, this device exhibits long-term stability with sustained performance within a certain attenuation range even after 60 days. These stickers possess small, lightweight, and portable features that enable real-time cortisol detection within 5 minutes through direct sweat collection. The application of this technology holds great potential in the field of personal health management, facilitating users to conveniently monitor their mental and physical conditions.

Quantitative analysis of sweat evaporation loss in epidermal microfluidic patches.

Sweat analysis is identified as a promising biochemical technique for the non-invasive assessment of human health status. Epidermal microfluidic patches are the predominant sweat sampling and sensing devices. However, the sweat stored inside the patches may suffer from evaporation loss of moisture, which can increase the concentration of biomarkers and cause the biochemical analysis results of sweat to deviate from the actual results. This study focuses on quantitatively analysing the sweat evaporation loss within epidermal microfluidic patches. Analytical models based on the dissolution diffusion mechanism and corresponding partial differential equations for the diffusion process were initially developed. The analytical solution of the equation was derived using the method of separation of variables, and the steady-state concentration distribution of water in the materials of microfluidic patches was calculated when considering the application of epidermal microfluidics. Evaporation losses of sweat through different paths were quantitatively calculated and analysed, including permeation through covers, diffusion along microchannels, and absorption by sidewalls. Then, experiments on the evaporation loss of sweat within microfluidic patches were conducted to validate the theoretical calculations and analytical results. At last, the design of the anti-evaporation structure for microfluidic patches was discussed. This study can provide theoretical and experimental references for the design of water-retention structures in epidermal microfluidic patches, which significantly enhances the overall reliability of sweat biochemical analysis results.

Development of a wearable surface enhanced Raman scattering sensor chip based on silver nanowires for rapid detection of urea, lactate and pH in sweat

A wearable sweat sensor chip based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is here presented. The plasmonic core of the chip, obtained by deposition of silver nanowires on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) porous membrane, permits the direct and label-free detection of urea and lactate at physiologic concentrations in combination with the pH measurement in the range between 5 and 9. Once integrated with commercial biocompatible and adhesive tape layers, the as produced SERS-active chip provides a low-cost, flexible and wearable sensing device for rapid and reliable human sweat analysis. The chip was finally tested on real sweat samples to estimate lactate and urea during medium-intense exertions.

Advances in Non-Electrochemical Sensing of Human Sweat Biomarkers: From Sweat Sampling to Signal Reading.

Sweat, commonly referred to as the ultrafiltrate of blood plasma, is an essential physiological fluid in the human body. It contains a wide range of metabolites, electrolytes, and other biologically significant markers that are closely linked to human health. Compared to other bodily fluids, such as blood, sweat offers distinct advantages in terms of ease of collection and non-invasive detection. In recent years, considerable attention has been focused on wearable sweat sensors due to their potential for continuous monitoring of biomarkers. Electrochemical methods have been extensively used for in situ sweat biomarker analysis, as thoroughly reviewed by various researchers. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in non-electrochemical methods for analyzing sweat, including colorimetric methods, fluorescence techniques, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and more. The review covers multiple aspects of non-electrochemical sweat analysis, encompassing sweat sampling methodologies, detection techniques, signal processing, and diverse applications. Furthermore, it highlights the current bottlenecks and challenges faced by non-electrochemical sensors, such as limitations and interference issues. Finally, the review concludes by offering insights into the prospects for non-electrochemical sensing technologies. By providing a valuable reference and inspiring researchers engaged in the field of sweat sensor development, this paper aspires to foster the creation of innovative and practical advancements in this domain.

Developing Porous Microneedles Patch for the Detection of Wound Infections

AbstractWound infections caused by invasive pathogens become an increasing global challenge health. Porous microneedles (MNs) present distinctive advantages for non‐invasive and in situ detection of wound infections, enabling the extraction of interstitial fluid, skin sweat, saliva and other biological samples. Consequently, porous MNs find widespread acceptance in medical detection, drug delivery, and monitoring physiological indicators. Based on these advantages, the emerging clinical applications and classifications of MNs is first introduced, covering mechanical strength, methods for antibody probe modification onto porous MNs, and signal amplification techniques for biomarkers analysis. At the same time, the specific applications of immunology and electrochemistry on porous MNs, introducing methods to enhance the detection signal of target molecules, such as rolling circle amplification, gold/silver nanoparticles, fluorescence amplification origami microneedle and so on is try to summarized. The improvement of detection sensitivity is realized by integrating various signal amplification strategies and diverse detection methods. Meanwhile, it is briefly illustrated applications in wound detections. Finally, challenges and future prospects of using porous MNs for detection in practical applications is discussed.

Redox-Concatenated Aptamer Integrated Skin Mimicking Electrochemical Patch for Noninvasive Detection of Cortisol.

This research focuses on developing and validating a wearable electrochemical biosensor called the concatenated aptamer integrated skin patch, also known as the Captain Patch. The main objective is to detect cortisol levels in sweat, which can provide valuable insights into an individual's health. The biosensor utilizes a corrugated surface that mimics the skin, allowing for better attachment and an improved electrochemical performance. The study demonstrates the successful application of Captain Patch on the human body by using artificially spiked sweat samples. The results indicate good measurement accuracy and conformity when the patch is worn on the body. However, for long-term usage, the patch needs to be changed every 3-4 h or worn three times a day to enable monitoring of cortisol levels. Despite the need for frequent patch changes, the cost-effectiveness and ease of operation make these skin patches suitable for longitudinal cortisol monitoring and other sweat analytes. By customization of the biorecognition probe, the developed biowearable can be used to monitor a variety of vital biomarkers. Overall, Captain Patch, with its capability of detecting specific health markers such as cortisol, hints at the future potential of wearables to offer valuable data on various other biomarkers. Our approach presents the first step in integrating a cost-effective wearable electrochemical patch integrated with a redox-concatenated aptamer for noninvasive biomarker detection. This personalized approach to monitoring can lead to improved patient outcomes and increased patient engagement in managing their health.

Wearable Fabric Sensor Using Functionalized MWCNT Nanocomposite Material

Despite the recent advancements in sensor detection of biomarkers in sweat, there is no sensor capable of long-term detection in constricted or load-bearing applications where other flexible plastic sensors might cause discomfort. In this work, a carbon nanotube-based fabric sensor capable of real-time detection of sodium in human sweat is presented. The sensor consists of an electrospun nylon-6 base functionalized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes for enhanced conductivity and p-tert-calix[4]arene for enhanced sodium selectivity. Monitoring sweat is a compelling choice to gain insight into a person’s hydration at a molecular level, as sweat is rich in physiological and metabolic information that can be obtained non-invasively. Body surface sweat is approximately 99% water but also contains over 40 other compounds, most notably the presence of extracellular ions: sodium and chloride. Sodium has been shown to have a notable correlation to body fluid balance and is lost in ample quantities during exercise, making it a promising candidate for the detection of dehydration (i.e., hypernatremia) and overhydration (i.e., hyponatremia). Other compounds commonly found in surface sweat include intracellular ions, metabolites, hormones, small proteins, and peptides. This rich composition and its correspondence to blood chemistry can be the key to accessing the body’s biomolecular (health) state through non-invasive monitoring and diagnostics.When monitoring biomarkers in sweat, the sampling step has the greatest impact on accuracy. Traditional methods for monitoring sweat sodium concentration involve collecting a sweat sample and performing chemical analysis in two separate steps. Typical sweat collection procedures include whole body washdown, sweat collection patches, arm bags, and Macroducts® which require some combination of tedious procedures, trained professionals, and large equipment for analysis. These methods are often limited by insufficient sample volumes, non-negligible sample evaporation, possible analyte degradation between sampling and analysis all of which strongly impacts the reliability and sensitivity of the measurement.To circumvent the problems caused by separating sampling and analysis, sweat sampling can also be completed using wearable sensors. Through in-situ sampling and analysis, wearable sweat sensors can perform the necessary real-time measurements with freshly generated sweat rather than a mixture of new and old sweat. Functional absorbent materials (e.g., paper, nonwoven, cellulosic, or hydrogels) are typically introduced between the skin and the sensing component; although as shown in this work, they can also be introduced as sensing components during sampling. The advantages of functional absorbent sensing materials are their low cost, multiple functions, real-time and continuous sensing, and most importantly the enhanced breathability of sweat glands. As such, these wearable sensors avoid the issue of altering the sweat composition underneath because they remove the old sweat accumulation as new sweat wicks into the material and washes away old sweat. This also allows physiological monitoring for longer periods of time than traditional epidermal microfluidic devices. Additionally, functional absorbent materials can also be integrated into fabrics with inherent moisture wicking properties to bring sweat to a sensing area.This work presents the characterization and on-body testing of a previously developed functional absorbent material sensor made of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) functionalized nylon-6 nanocomposite. The wearable-fabric sensor works by measuring resistance of the nanocomposite material as sodium binds to the sensor fabric. The functionalization of the nanocomposite material was verified by FTIR; while XRD spectra show that the electrospun nylon-6 is made of -form crystals and the resulting nanocomposite is intercalated/exfoliated with an increase in crystalline size. The optimized MWCNT/nylon-6 nanocomposite sensor has a MWCNT loading close to the percolation threshold at approximately 1-2 wt%. Experimental results demonstrated that the sensor is selective to sodium in sweat at a sensitivity of 10 mM sodium. When worn on the body (attached to human skin), the sensor is capable of real-time monitoring of sodium concentration in sweat in the physiologically relevant range of 10-110 mM with up to 85% accuracy. Additionally, the obtained signal can be sent out via Bluetooth so that changes in hydration status can be detected in real-time.Overall, this carbon nanotube-based fabric sensor can be integrated into “smarter” clothing to read an array of biomarkers in sweat. This could lead to better understanding of health and disease processes (e.g., analysis of common diabetic neurological complications, diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF), sweat monitoring for advanced prosthetic limb applications and bedridden patients, and athlete performance tracking) resulting in better treatments and health outcomes for all patients.

Flexible non-enzymatic glucose strip for direct non-invasive diabetic management

Daily glucose measurements represent the routine practice for monitoring and managing diabetes. Current glucose/sugar analysis is dominated by intrusive finger-prick blood-based methods, which hinder the diabetic community in practical implementations. Nonenzymatic glucose sensors based on transition metals have shown robust glucose analysis performance in non-invasive biofluids. However, transition metals-based nonenzymatic glucose sensors are usually operated in an alkalic medium, thus strictly prohibiting further translational developments. To resolve this issue, we propose a facile strategy to construct flexible nonenzymatic glucose strips (NEGS) for practical, non-invasive glucose analysis. The processed alkaline hydrogel patch was loaded onto the NGS to mimic the electrolyte medium for glucose reaction. The assembled hydrogel patch NEGS could detect glucose levels down to 1 µM, with an excellent linearity response from 10 µM to 3 mM and negligible current responses toward the excessive additions of potential interferences. As a proof of concept, these prepared devices were used for the glucose analysis of real sweat and saliva samples. Additionally, non-invasive biofluids of both healthy and diabetic subjects were synchronously compared, offering new insights into precision diabetic management by directly measuring the glucose levels in the non-invasive biofluidic samples without being cumbersomely correlated to blood glucose.

Bioenzyme-free colorimetric assay for creatinine determination based on Mn3O4 nanoparticles catalyzed oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine.

Mn3O4 nanozyme with good oxidase-like activity was successfully synthesized. The prepared Mn3O4 nanozyme can directly and effectively catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to generate green-blue-colored ox-TMB. Creatinine exhibits distinct inhibition effect on Mn3O4 nanozyme-catalyzed TMB colorimetric reaction system, leading to obvious color fading and absorbance intensity decrease of the reaction system. Furthermore, interference from uric acid can be effectively eliminated by regulating the pH of TMB-Mn3O4 colorimetric reaction system to pH 2.0. Then, a simple and bioenzyme-free colorimetric assay for the determination of creatinine was developed based on TMB-Mn3O4 colorimetric reaction. The linear detection range isfrom 100 to 800 μM and from 1 to 20 mM. The lowest limit of detection is 35.3 μM. Satisfied results are obtained for the determination of creatinine in real urine and sweat samples. This work provides the synthesis of a good oxidase-like nanozyme Mn3O4 and presents the fabrication of an effective nanozyme-based bioenzyme-free colorimetric assay for the determination of creatinine.