Epidermal Patch with Glucose Biosensor: pH and Temperature Correction toward More Accurate Sweat Analysis during...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Enzymatic biosensors are crucial for glucose monitoring but sensitive to pH and temperature.
• Existing wearable glucose sensors lack real-time correction for dynamic physiological changes.
• Accurate sweat glucose analysis is vital for sports performance and healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a wearable epidermal patch for accurate, real-time glucose analysis in sweat.
• To implement a novel correction approach for pH and temperature fluctuations during on-body measurements.
• To validate the performance of the wearable glucose sensor through a rigorous two-step protocol.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a flexible skin patch with an integrated microfluidic cell and electrodes (glucose, pH, temperature).
• Development of a dynamic correction approach to adjust calibration parameters based on real-time sweat pH and temperature.
• Two-step validation using UV-vis spectrometry and ion chromatography for both off- and on-body measurements.

Main Results:

• The glucose biosensor demonstrated a linear response (10-200 μM) with fast response time, selectivity, and reversibility.
• On-body tests showed reliable glucose detection through dynamic pH and temperature correction.
• The developed correction approach significantly enhances measurement accuracy during physical activity.

Conclusions:

• The wearable epidermal patch provides a reliable method for sweat glucose monitoring during physical activity.
• The novel pH and temperature correction approach is key to accurate, real-time physiological data digitalization.
• This technology has the potential to advance next-generation wearable devices for sports and healthcare applications.