An Integrated Sweat Sensor for Synchronous Detection of Multiple Atherosclerosis Biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Atherosclerosis diagnosis relies on invasive methods measuring blood viscosity, flow, and lesions.
• Precision medicine necessitates convenient, noninvasive diagnostic tools for atherosclerosis.
• Current diagnostic methods lack the accessibility required for widespread, early screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated electrochemical sensor for simultaneous, noninvasive detection of atherosclerosis biomarkers in sweat.
• To create a highly sensitive and specific sensing platform for trace sweat analytes.
• To validate the practical utility of the sensor for real-world atherosclerosis monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hybrid sensing substrate using carbon quantum dots and multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
• Integration of molecular recognition elements for specific detection of cholesterol, transferrin, and K+.
• Utilizing electrochemical techniques for ultrasensitive signal transduction from sweat samples.

Main Results:

• The carbon quantum dot-multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrid framework demonstrated low resistance and high electron transfer rates.
• The sensor achieved simultaneous and specific detection of cholesterol, transferrin, and K+ in sweat.
• The nonenzymatic sensor exhibited excellent long-term stability and practical utility in volunteer sweat samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrochemical sensor offers a promising noninvasive approach for atherosclerosis diagnostics.
• Simultaneous detection of key biomarkers in sweat facilitates convenient disease indexing.
• This technology aligns with precision medicine goals by enabling accessible, early atherosclerosis assessment.