Nanomaterial-Enabled Wearable Sensors for Healthcare

Adv Healthc Mater. 2018 Jan;7(1). doi: 10.1002/adhm.201700889. Epub 2017 Nov 30.

Abstract

Highly sensitive wearable sensors that can be conformably attached to human skin or integrated with textiles to monitor the physiological parameters of human body or the surrounding environment have garnered tremendous interest. Owing to the large surface area and outstanding material properties, nanomaterials are promising building blocks for wearable sensors. Recent advances in the nanomaterial-enabled wearable sensors including temperature, electrophysiological, strain, tactile, electrochemical, and environmental sensors are presented in this review. Integration of multiple sensors for multimodal sensing and integration with other components into wearable systems are summarized. Representative applications of nanomaterial-enabled wearable sensors for healthcare, including continuous health monitoring, daily and sports activity tracking, and multifunctional electronic skin are highlighted. Finally, challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives in the field of nanomaterial-enabled wearable sensors are discussed.

Keywords: activity tracking; electronic skin; health monitoring; nanomaterials; wearable sensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Wearable Electronic Devices