Fe/Pt dual-atom catalyst-enabled wearable microfluidic patch for superior uric acid detection in sweat

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Wearable sensors enable non-invasive, real-time physiological monitoring.
• Uric acid (UA) detection in sweat is crucial for personalized medicine.
• Existing methods for UA detection often lack sensitivity or require invasive procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive and accurate wearable sweat sensor for uric acid (UA) detection.
• To investigate the catalytic mechanism and synergistic effects in novel platinum-iron dual-atom catalysts (Pt/Fe DACs).
• To enhance sweat collection efficiency using a hydrophilic microfluidic patch.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a wearable patch incorporating Pt/Fe DACs for UA detection.
• Integration of a polyaniline (PANI)-based pH electrode for sensor calibration.
• Utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT) to analyze catalytic mechanisms.
• Development of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic patch for sweat management.

Main Results:

• The Pt/Fe DACs demonstrated selective and precise UA detection over a wide concentration range (6.25–1500 μM).
• DFT calculations elucidated the synergistic catalytic interaction between Fe and Pt atoms, enhancing sensor sensitivity.
• The PANI pH electrode ensured reliable calibration, and the PDMS patch improved sweat collection.

Conclusions:

• The developed wearable sweat sensor offers a significant advancement for non-invasive UA monitoring.
• The study highlights the potential of Pt/Fe DACs in electrochemical sensing applications.
• This work paves the way for improved personalized health monitoring through advanced wearable sensor technology.