Battery-free, skin-interfaced microfluidic/electronic systems for simultaneous electrochemical, colorimetric, and volumetric analysis of sweat

Amay J. Bandodkar, Philipp Gutruf, Jungil Choi, Kun Hyuck Lee, Yurina Sekine, Jonathan T. Reeder, William J. Jeang, Alexander J. Aranyosi, Stephen P. Lee, Jeffrey B. Model, Roozbeh Ghaffari, Chun Ju Su, John P. Leshock, Tyler Ray, Anthony Verrillo, Kyle Thomas, Vaishnavi Krishnamurthi, Seungyong Han, Jeonghyun Kim, Siddharth KrishnanTao Hang, John A. Rogers*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

544 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wearable sweat sensors rely either on electronics for electrochemical detection or on colorimetry for visual readout. Non-ideal form factors represent disadvantages of the former, while semiquantitative operation and narrow scope of measurable biomarkers characterize the latter. Here, we introduce a battery-free, wireless electronic sensing platform inspired by biofuel cells that integrates chronometric microfluidic platforms with embedded colorimetric assays. The resulting sensors combine advantages of electronic and microfluidic functionality in a platform that is significantly lighter, cheaper, and smaller than alternatives. A demonstration device simultaneously monitors sweat rate/loss, pH, lactate, glucose, and chloride. Systematic studies of the electronics, microfluidics, and integration schemes establish the key design considerations and performance attributes. Two-day human trials that compare concentrations of glucose and lactate in sweat and blood suggest a potential basis for noninvasive, semi-quantitative tracking of physiological status.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereaav3294
JournalScience Advances
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 18 2019

Funding

We would like to acknowledge Y. Zhang at Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center, Northwestern University for assistance in NMR analysis and Keck Biophysics Facility and the Stupp Laboratory, Northwestern University for access to lyophilizer. This research was funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Human Signatures Branch through core funds provided to Northwestern University under contract FA8650-14-D-6516. This work used the Northwestern University Micro/Nano Fabrication Facility (NUFAB), which is partially supported by Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource (NSF ECCS-1542205), the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (DMR-1720139), the State of Illinois, and Northwestern University.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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