MSU Technologies

Liquid Activated Textile Biosensing Platform

Executive Summary

Wearable devices have found considerable market success, in part, due to advances in affordable technology. One area of significant interest is in the area of wearable medical devices for consumers for monitoring an individual’s physiological condition. While devices for monitoring heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature exist, there remains a need for an affordable technology for monitoring other biofluids. MSU researchers have developed a new electrochemical sensor for biomolecular detection that is embroidered on a textile. The sensor is flexible, repeatable and robust with excellent selectivity. Multiple sensors can be combined for separate analysis of different biomarkers.

Description of Technology

The sensors utilize a conductive thread which is embroidered in a textile to create a three electrode system. On one of the electrodes, the thread contains an immobilized enzyme suitable for the analyte of interest. The embroidery pattern is done in an optimal manner so as to enhance signal quality. Sensors have been embroidered in a polyester fabric and commercial gauze and wound dressing. The sensors have been tested with glucose, lactate and uric acid showing linear response and very high correlation coefficients and selectivity with simultaneous analyze detection. To test durability, 90 degree and folding tests have been conducted (up to 100 cycles) with no observable change in response.

Key Benefits

Light weight, and unobtrusive: user mobility and comfort are not compromised
Flexible, robust sensors; can withstand repeated mechanical stresses without loss of accuracy
Can multiplex sensors for simultaneous multiple analyze measurements
Can be integrated with a liquid embedded battery and wirelessly connected to a smartphone application.

Applications