Wearable PDMS-PEG Microfluidic Biosensors for Sweat Biomarker Detection

Author: Fina Lu

Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Math

Faculty Mentors: Ahyeon Koh

Easel: 15

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Wearable biosensors have seen rapid advancements due to their health monitoring capabilities for telehealth care. Silicone elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a foundational material used in wearable microfluidics, however, PDMS is inherently hydrophobic, which impedes the transport of sweat to channels and integrated sensors. This study introduces a skin-interfaced microfluidic device constructed from polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PDMS to address the intrinsic hydrophobicity challenges of PDMS. The investigation of sweat biomarkers is important to establish diagnostic capabilities comparable to blood. Collecting sufficient sweat sample volumes with continuous, real-time molecular analysis without requiring intense physical activity is crucial for sweat monitoring.