Laser-induced graphene composites-based standalone stretchable sweat sensing system for remote health monitoring

炎症作为机体的一种防御机制是一种免疫反应，它是机体许多生理和病理过程的基础。然而，某些感染也可引起压倒性的局部/全身炎症反应，导致危及生命的疾病。由于特定细胞因子与传染病之间存在关联，因此利用细胞因子水平作为感染的早期标志物具有重要意义。虽然血液采集和样本分析已应用于目前的细胞因子检测，但它们通常涉及到静脉切开术和复杂的实验室设备。尽管基于适配体的传感器可以实现小分子的侵入性实时测量，但无法实现对细胞因子水平的连续、非侵入性和远程监测。开发可穿戴设备用于无创、持续监测炎症标志物，以尽早识别可能被感染的个体，这一需求尚未得到满足。对具有复杂成分的生物流体（如汗液、间质液）中超低浓度的生物标志物进行无创测量，需要传感器具有高灵敏度和选择性，这对于大多数现有设备来说是具有挑战性的。对复杂实验室设备的需求和持续电力供应的缺乏使得长期、实时的监测变得难以实现。该项目将导致一个独立的设备可以同时提供所需的高灵敏度/选择性、无线测量和持续供电的特性。可穿戴设备面临的一大挑战是实现非侵入性、长期、实时、高灵敏度/选择性的无线测量，用于诊断确认和健康监测。为了实现这一目标，该研究项目将研究一系列基础激光诱导石墨烯复合材料、制造方法和设备问题，以将当前笨重的设备或可穿戴传感器转变为用于远程实时健康监测的独立可拉伸汗液传感系统。所提出的独立可拉伸设备系统将与现有的可穿戴设备区别开来，因为它们具有软微流体电化学传感器，具有增强的灵敏度/选择性，可实时同步检测多种分析物，并提供长期运行的持续电源。一个结合实验和建模的研究项目将1)阐明由适配体功能化的高多孔3D纳米复合电极对增强灵敏度/选择性的影响，2)了解机械变形下可拉伸器件的多物理场设计的作用，以及3)揭示基于纳米复合材料的电源增强电源性能的基本机制。通过研究和教育活动的协同整合，该项目还将为下一代工程师和科学家提供职业发展机会和相关技能，以应对与人类健康相关的生物电子学方面的重大挑战。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Inflammation as a defense mechanism in the body is an immune response, which forms the basis of many physiological and pathological processes. However, certain infections can also cause an overwhelming local/systemic inflammatory response, leading to life-threatening diseases. Because of the association between specific cytokines and infectious diseases, there is significant interest in utilizing cytokine levels as an early marker for infection. While blood collection and sample analysis have been applied in current testing for cytokines, they often involve phlebotomy and complex laboratory equipment. Although invasive real-time measurement of small molecules can be achieved with aptamer-based sensors, continuous, non-invasive, and remote monitoring of cytokine levels cannot be accomplished. There is an unmet need to develop wearable devices for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of inflammatory markers to identify at the earliest possible time individuals who are likely to be infected. The non-invasive measurement of biomarkers with ultralow concentrations from the biofluids (e.g., sweat, interstitial fluids) with complex composition requires high sensitivity and selectivity in the sensors, which is challenging to achieve with most existing devices. The need for complex laboratory equipment and the lack of sustained power supplies makes long-term, real-time monitoring elusive. This project will result in a standalone device can simultaneously provide the required properties of high sensitivity/selectivity, wireless measurement, and sustained power supplies.A grand challenge in wearable devices is to achieve non-invasive, long-term, real-time, wireless measurements with high sensitivity/selectivity for diagnostic confirmation and health monitoring. In pursuit of this goal, the research project will investigate a set of foundational laser-induced graphene composite materials, manufacturing approaches, and device problems to shift the current bulky devices or wearable sensors toward standalone stretchable sweat sensing systems for remote real-time health monitoring. The proposed standalone stretchable device systems will distinguish themselves from existing wearable devices in that they possess soft microfluidic electrochemical sensors with enhanced sensitivity/selectivity for real-time synchronous detection of multiple analytes and sustained power supplies for long-term operation. A combined experimental and modeling research program will 1) elucidate the effect of highly porous 3D nanocomposite electrodes functionalized by aptamers on enhanced sensitivity/selectivity, 2) understand the role of Multiphysics design for stretchable devices under mechanical deformations, and 3) uncover the fundamental mechanisms of nanocomposites-based power supplies for enhanced power performance. Through the synergistic integration of research and educational activities, this project will also provide next-generation engineers and scientists with career development opportunities and relevant skill sets to address grand challenges related to bioelectronics for human health.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.