Journal article
Hydrogel-based sweat chloride sensor with high sensitivity and low hysteresis
Biosensors & bioelectronics, v 288, 117805
15 Nov 2025
PMID: 40730067
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Abstract
Monitoring chloride ions (Cl
) in sweat is critical for assessing hydration, diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF), and evaluating other health conditions. Existing wearable sweat chloride sensors either exhibit low sensitivity based on potentiometric sensing or irreversible readings based on colorimetric sensing. To address these challenges, we report the design of a hydrogel-based wearable sweat sensor that allows for monitoring of Cl
based on an electrolyte concentration gradient. This reported sensor features a coplanar design with a cation-selective hydrogel (CH), a high-salinity hydrogel (HH), and a sweat chamber. The gradient between the HH and the sweat chamber drives ion diffusion through the CH, generating an open-circuit voltage (VOC) that corresponds to the Cl
concentration in the sweat chamber. A stable device performance is achieved by further integrating a superhydrophilic poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) thin film that prevents ion exchange and hydrogel swelling. The resulting sensor exhibits an ultrahigh sensitivity of 1.7 mV/mM and a fast response time of 7.1 s, with excellent linearity and reversibility in the range from 10 to 100 mM. Integrating the sensor with a microfluidic module along with temperature calibration provides continuous and calibrated, accurate measurements during physical activities. The design concepts for real-time sweat Cl
detection can also be applied to monitor the other biomarkers for personalized diagnostics and health monitoring.
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Details
- Title
- Hydrogel-based sweat chloride sensor with high sensitivity and low hysteresis
- Creators
- Wanqing Zhang - Pennsylvania State UniversityXianzhe Zhang - Pennsylvania State UniversityAnkan Dutta - Pennsylvania State UniversityFarnaz Lorestani - Pennsylvania State UniversityMd Abu Sayeed Biswas - Pennsylvania State UniversityBowen Li - Pennsylvania State UniversityAbu Musa Abdullah - Pennsylvania State UniversityHuanyu Cheng - Pennsylvania State University
- Publication Details
- Biosensors & bioelectronics, v 288, 117805
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- 2319139; 2243979; 2309323 / National Science Foundation (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000001) National Science Foundation (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000001) Pennsylvania State University (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100008321) Pennsylvania State University (100008321) National Institutes of Health (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000002) U01DA056242; R21EB030140 / National Institutes of Health (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100000002) U01DA056242 / National Institutes of Health (100000002) STUDY00020880 / Pennsylvania State University (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/100008321) R21EB030140 / National Institutes of Health (100000002)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001591186100001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105011771807
- Other Identifier
- 991022094667304721