Wearable potentiometric biosensor for analysis of urea in sweat

Herein, we introduce wearable potentiometric biosensors on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) for onbody and on-site monitoring of urea in sweat. The biosensor architecture was judiciously designed to detect urea at different pHs and incorporate a pH sensor, thus containing polyaniline ink, urease bioink and a polyvinylchloride membrane. Urea detection could be performed in the wide range from 5 to 200 mM at pH 7.0, encompassing urea levels in human sweat. The biosensor response was fast (incubation time 5 min), with no interference from other substances in sweat. Reliable urea detection could be done in undiluted human sweat with a skin-worn flexible device using the pH correction strategy afforded by the pH sensor. The performance of the epidermal biosensor was not affected by severe bending strains. The feasibility of mass production was demonstrated by fabricating epidermal flexible biosensors using slot-die coating with a roll-to-roll technique.

Automated summary

In this study, we developed wearable potentiometric biosensors for monitoring urea in sweat. The biosensors were designed to detect urea at different pH values and included a pH sensor, polyaniline ink, urease bioink, and a polyvinylchloride membrane. The biosensors exhibited fast response time, no interference from other substances in sweat, and reliable urea detection in undiluted human sweat using a skin-worn flexible device with pH correction strategy. The performance of the biosensors was not affected by severe bending strains, and mass production was also demonstrated using slot-die coating with a roll-to-roll technique.