A Step Forward for Smart Clothes─Fabric-Based Microfluidic Sensors for Wearable Health Monitoring

Abstract

We report the first demonstration of fabric-based microfluidics for wearable sensing. A new technology to develop microfluidics on fabrics, as a part of an undergarment, is described here. Compared to conventional microfluidics from polydimethylsiloxane, fabric-based microfluidics are simple to make, robust, and suitable for efficient sweat delivery. Specifically, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) films with precut microfluidic patterns were infused through fabrics to form hydrophobic areas in a specially controlled sandwich structure. Experimental tests and simulations confirmed the sweat delivery efficiency of the microfluidics. Electrodes were screen-printed onto the fabric-based microfluidic. A novel wearable potentiometer based on Arduino was also developed as the transducer and signal readouts, which was low-cost, standardized, open-source, and capable of wireless data transfer. We applied the sensor system as a standalone or as a module of a T-shirt to quantify [Ca 2+ ] in a wearer's sweat, with physiological and accurate results generated. Overall, this work represents a critical step in turning regular undergarments into biochemically smart platforms for health monitoring, which will broadly benefit human healthcare.

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“…Therefore, various innovative technologies based on preparation methods and structure have been proposed to achieve better performance. For example, the combination of intelligent communication devices and microfluidic chips has been proposed to enable easier real-time healthcare detection [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The combination of spinning technology and microfluidic chips is applied to flexible wearable devices [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Wearable Sensors

“…This work is notable since the sensor enables the continuous monitoring of sweat lactate during both rest and exercise . More recently, Zhang and associates described a clever fabric-based microfluidic wearable for calcium monitoring in sweat . Here, the authors infused laser-cut thermoplastic films into fabrics to form integrated microfluidic circuits, that were effective in delivering sweat toward screen-printed electrodes.…”

“…26 More recently, Zhang and associates described a clever fabric-based microfluidic wearable for calcium monitoring in sweat. 27 Here, the authors infused laser-cut thermoplastic films into fabrics to form integrated microfluidic circuits, that were effective in delivering sweat toward screenprinted electrodes. This work is especially exciting, since it suggests a simple route toward mass production of smart clothing in the future.…”