Wearable Glucose Monitoring Research Articles

Synergistic ZnO-NiO composites for superior Fiber-Shaped Non-Enzymatic glucose sensing

The rise in diabetes requires new glucose sensors, as traditional enzyme-based and planar electrodes are sensitive to the environment and hard to integrate into wearables. This study addresses these issues by developing a flexible, non-enzymatic glucose sensor using a co-sputtered ZnO: NiO (NZ) composite on PET fiber. This design enhances the tensile strength (60 mm at 3.2 kg.f) and conductance (0.23 S) of Cu-coated PET fiber, forming a durable sensing platform. The electrode’s enhanced electrochemical surface area (0.13 cm2) offers abundant active sites for glucose interaction, while the synergistic interface effect boosts ion and charge transport, improving glucose sensing. The sensor achieves high sensitivity (28.96 mA·cm−2·mM−1), fast response time (23 s), and a low detection limit (0.25 mM), while maintaining 78 % of its sensitivity after 500 bending cycles. These features, combined with good electrochemical stability—retaining 60 % of its initial performance after prolonged electrolyte exposure—mark a significant advancement in wearable glucose monitoring.

Stretchable Non‐Enzymatic Fuel Cell‐Based Sensor Patch Integrated with Thread‐Embedded Microfluidics for Self‐Powered Wearable Glucose Monitoring

AbstractWearable sensor patches for continuous or intermittent monitoring of biomolecules from body fluids are highly desired as a stretchable integrated platform conformable and attachable to the human body. However, realizing such integrated sensor patches is very challenging because of the difficulty of achieving full stretchability, controlling transport of the body fluid, and minimizing power consumption. In this study, a stretchable and self‐powered microfluidic‐integrated sensor patch comprising a stretchable non‐enzymatic fuel cell‐based sweat glucose sensor and a stretchable cotton thread‐embedded microfluidic device is demonstrated. To endow the fuel cell‐based glucose sensor with stretchability, the anode and cathode electrodes with catalytic nanoporous Au (NPG) and NPG coated with Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs@NPG), respectively, are formed on an omnidirectionally stretchable substrate with a three‐dimensional micropattern that can effectively absorb the stress generated during deformation. In addition, a stretchable microfluidic device made by embedding cotton thread into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel for powerless constant absorption and sweat flow is integrated into the fuel cell structure. The fully stretchable microfluidic‐integrated self‐powered sensor patch demonstrates excellent continuous monitoring of the sweat glucose concentration.