Flexible chip-based wearable sensors enhanced by gold nanoparticles for IFN-γ detection

Cytokines, essential regulatory proteins orchestrating various physiological processes and immune responses, play a pivotal role in assessing health status. Conventional cytokine detection methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, are reliable but time-consuming. Electrochemical aptamer-based sensors offer rapid response and higher selectivity, but fall short of achieving non-invasive detection. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a novel approach to improve cytokine detection performance. We employ a one-step electrodeposition method to synthesize and coat structured gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto a working electrode, optimizing surface morphology by manipulating applied voltage, deposition time, and reactant concentrations. The resulting nanostructured Au NPs exhibit diverse and previously unreported morphologies. Leveraging these advancements, we design a wearable device integrating the Au NPs-based sensor with structure-switch aptamers on a microfluidic chip. This wearable sensor shows a limit of detection of 0.3 pg/mL and a larger linear range of 0.3-100 pg/mL. This innovation allows for the non-invasive and continuous detection of cytokines, marking a significant step towards the development of wearable electrochemical biosensors for health monitoring.Clinical Relevance- This research provides a novel wearable sensor for non-invasive continuous monitoring of cytokine IFN-γ from human sweat. This innovation holds immense clinical relevance, offering real-time insights into early disease responses and the onset of non-communicable health conditions. The advancement of wearable electrochemical biosensors, exhibiting enhanced performance, addresses a crucial need in clinical practice. This development offers a versatile and efficient tool for patient-friendly health monitoring, marking a significant step forward in the field.