An integrated and conductive hydrogel-paper patch for simultaneous sensing of Chemical-Electrophysiological signals

Abstract

Simultaneous monitoring of electrophysiological and biochemical signals is of great importance in healthcare and fitness management, while the fabrication of highly integrated and flexible devices is crucial to these applications. Herein, we devised a multifunctional and flexible hydrogel-paper patch (HPP) that was capable of simultaneously real-time monitoring of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and biochemical signal (glucose content) in sweat during exercise. The self-assembly of the highly porous PEDOT:PSS hydrogel on paper fiber provided the HPP with good conductivity and hydrophilic wettability for efficient electron transmission and substance diffusion, thereby enabling it to serve as a low-impedance ECG electrode and a highly sensitive glucose sensor. Additionally, the spontaneous capillary flow effect allows the paper patch to be used as microfluidic channels for the collect and analysis of sweat. Moreover, the HPP is integrated with a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) and works as a multifunctional wearable device mounted on the chest for real-time monitoring of electrophysiological and biochemical signals during exercise.

Keywords: Integrated device; PEDOT:PSS hydrogels; Paper-based biosensor; Wearable sensors.