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Stitched textile-based microfluidics for wearable devices
Martin Hanze1, Andrew Piper1,2, Mahiar Max Hamedi1
1Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56-58, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden. mahiar@kth.se.
Lab on a Chip
|November 27, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed novel textile microfluidics using machine stitching for wearable biosensors. These reusable devices can collect, transport, and detect sweat, offering a low-cost, scalable solution for diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Textile Engineering
Background:
- Conventional microfluidics face challenges in seamless integration with textiles for wearable applications.
- Thread-based microfluidics offer a promising avenue for textile integration due to capillary-driven flow.
- Wearable biosensors require robust, reusable, and easily manufacturable fluidic components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop advanced textile-based microfluidic devices using machine stitching.
- To demonstrate the functionality of these devices for liquid mixing, separation, and sweat analysis.
- To integrate electrochemical sensors for analyte detection in wearable applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of microfluidic devices by machine stitching commercially available textiles.
- Utilizing polyester yarns with enhanced wicking abilities on hydrophobic substrates.
- Integration of stitched electrochemical sensors using gold-coated yarns.
Main Results:
- Successful construction of textile microfluidics capable of 2D and 3D mixing and separation.
- Demonstration of a wearable T-shirt integrated device for sweat collection, transport, and detection.
- Development of machine-washable and reusable microfluidic textile devices.
- Integration of electrochemical sensors for analyte detection within the microfluidic yarns.
Conclusions:
- Stitched textile-based microfluidic devices are a scalable, reproducible, and low-cost fabrication method.
- These devices are compatible with existing textile manufacturing, paving the way for wearable diagnostic applications.
- The developed technology offers a promising platform for advanced, reusable wearable biosensors.
