Wearable temporary tattoo sensor for real-time trace metal monitoring in human sweat

A wearable electrochemical sensor for non-invasive monitoring of trace metals in human perspiration is described. The temporary tattoo-based printable stripping-voltammetric sensor has been applied for real-time monitoring of zinc in sweat using a bismuth/Nafion film electrode during physical activity. The Zn temporary tattoo sensor withstands repeated mechanical stress and displays a well-defined Zn response during on-body testing. Such a non-invasive stripping-voltammetric detection could be readily expanded to epidermal measurements of other relevant heavy metals. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.