Mechanisms and Strategies for in Situ Regeneration of Sensing Interfaces for Real-Time Monitoring

In situ regeneration of sensing interfaces has emerged as a pivotal enabling strategy for real-time monitoring, addressing the persistent challenge of maintaining long-term operational stability, as biofouling, recognition-layer deactivation, signal drift, and structural degradation remain major bottlenecks limiting practical deployment. This review systematically examines the structural features and failure mechanisms of sensing interfaces, clarifies their underlying regeneration principles, and categorizes four major regeneration strategies: physical regeneration, chemical/electrochemical regeneration, biocatalytic regeneration, and materials-enabled self-healing and active regeneration. We comprehensively compare the mechanisms, operational boundaries, and application-specific suitability across three dominant sensing systems: electrochemical, field-effect transistor (FET)-based, and enzyme-based sensors. In the context of wearable, implantable, and point-of-care testing (POCT) applications, the trade-offs among interfacial stability, regeneration efficiency, analytical performance, and system integration are further discussed. Finally, we highlight future opportunities to advance in situ regeneration technology, including intelligent triggering of regeneration, synergistic multi-mechanism regeneration, rational interfacial materials design, and closed-loop system architecture. This review provides a conceptual framework for designing robust, long-lived sensing platforms that meet the demands of real-time monitoring across diverse technological and clinical contexts.