Smart facemask for wireless CO₂ monitoring

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Sensor Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• Facemasks are crucial for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
• Prolonged facemask use may cause adverse effects due to carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing.
• Real-time monitoring of CO2 levels inside masks is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensing platform for real-time CO2 determination inside FFP2 facemasks.
• To assess the feasibility of wearable CO2 monitoring for health assessment.

Main Methods:

• Development of an opto-chemical sensor integrated with a flexible, battery-less, near-field-enabled tag.
• Utilizing a custom smartphone application for wireless powering, data processing, and alerts.
• Performance testing during daily activities and exercise.

Main Results:

• The sensing platform achieved a resolution of 103 ppm and a limit of detection of 140 ppm.
• The sensor demonstrated a lifetime of 8 hours, aligning with recommended FFP2 mask usage.
• Successful demonstration of utility for non-invasive, wearable health assessment.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensing platform enables real-time CO2 monitoring within FFP2 facemasks.
• This technology offers potential for preclinical research, diagnostics, and wearable health assessment.
• It provides a tool to monitor and mitigate potential adverse effects of prolonged facemask use.