Title: A Wearable Microfluidic Sensing Patch for Dynamic Sweat Secretion Analysis

Abstract

Wearable sweat sensing is a rapidly rising research area driven by its promising potential in health, fitness, and diagnostic applications. Despite the growth in the field, major challenges in relation to sweat metrics remain to be addressed. These challenges include sweat rate monitoring for its complex relation with sweat compositions and sweat sampling for sweat dynamics studies. Here, we present a flexible microfluidic sweat sensing patch that enhances real-time electrochemical sensing and sweat rate analysis via sweat sampling. The device contains a spiral-patterned microfluidic component that is embedded with ion-selective sensors and an electrical impedance-based sweat rate sensor on a flexible plastic substrate. The patch is enabled to autonomously perform sweat analysis by interfacing the sensing component with a printed circuit board that is capable of on-site signal conditioning, analysis, and transmission. Progressive sweat flow in the microfluidic device, governed by the pressure induced by the secreted sweat, enhances sweat sampling and electrochemical detection via a defined sweat collection chamber and a directed sweat route. The characteristic of the sweat rate sensor is validated through a theoretical simulation, and the precision and accuracy of the flow rate is verified with a commercial syringe pump and a Macroduct sweat collector. On-bodymore » simultaneous monitoring of ion (H ⁺, Na ⁺, K ⁺, Cl ^–) concentration and sweat rate is also demonstrated for sensor functionality. This sweat sensing patch provides an integrated platform for a comprehensive sweat secretion analysis and facilitates physiological and clinical investigations by closely monitoring interrelated sweat parameters.« less

Authors:

Nyein, Hnin Yin Yin  ^[1];

• Search OSTI.GOV for author "Nyein, Hnin Yin Yin"
• Search OSTI.GOV for ORCID "0000-0002-5692-6182"
• Search orcid.org for ORCID "0000-0002-5692-6182"

Tai, Li-Chia ^[1]; Ngo, Quynh Phuong ^[2]; Chao, Minghan ^[3]; Zhang, George B. ^[2]; Gao, Wei ^[1]; Bariya, Mallika ^[1]; Bullock, James  ^[1];

• Search OSTI.GOV for author "Bullock, James"
• Search OSTI.GOV for ORCID "0000-0001-7903-9642"
• Search orcid.org for ORCID "0000-0001-7903-9642"

Kim, Hyungjin ^[1]; Fahad, Hossain M.  ^[4];

• Search OSTI.GOV for author "Fahad, Hossain M."
• Search OSTI.GOV for ORCID "0000-0002-6758-5432"
• Search orcid.org for ORCID "0000-0002-6758-5432"

Javey, Ali  ^[1]

• Search OSTI.GOV for author "Javey, Ali"
• Search OSTI.GOV for ORCID "0000-0001-7214-7931"
• Search orcid.org for ORCID "0000-0001-7214-7931"

---

+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering and Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Materials Sciences Division
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Materials Sciences Division
3. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
4. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering and Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center

Publication Date:

2018-05-09

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)

OSTI Identifier:

1638976

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

ACS Sensors

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 3; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 2379-3694

Publisher:

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; wearable biosensors; microfluidic device; sweat patch; multiplexed sensing; electrochemical sensor; flexible electronics