Page 90 - Read Online

Zhao et al. Soft Sci 2024;4:18 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ss.2024.04 Page 25 of 32

promise for one-time measurements, may cause skin irritation or discomfort, making it less suitable for
individuals with sensitive skin or conditions such as dermatitis. More new techniques need to be explored
for sweat sampling. For example, to enhance the sweat extract ability, further in-depth research on the
human sweating mechanism is necessary, along with developing corresponding database models specific to
different populations. This will enable efficient and personalized sweat collection. Additionally, enhancing
the collection capabilities of microfluidics, improving anti-interference abilities, and reducing water
evaporation are vital in ensuring thorough and adequate sweat collection.

From the perspective of wearable sweat sensors, significant progress has been made in correlating
physiological biomarkers with diseases. However, additional investigation is required to merge multiple
sensing modalities into a singular device capable of simultaneously detecting multiple analytes. As for these
sensors, it is crucial to evaluate wearable sensors by detecting a wide range of populations, including various
moods, age groups, genders, geographical locations, and so on. This can offer a more holistic view of an
individual’s physiological condition. Additionally, current electrochemical biosensors relying on enzymes
require more investigations into stability and environmental tolerance. The introduction of non-enzymatic
sensors could directly detect target analytes in sweat using nanomaterials, eliminating the need for enzymes,
which offer advantages including improved stability, longer shelf life, and reduced cost. Optical sweat
sensors are an emerging field of research in sweat sensor technology. These sensors utilize light-based
techniques, such as fluorescence or absorbance spectroscopy, to detect and analyze biomarkers in sweat.
They offer advantages such as noninvasiveness, real-time monitoring, and high sensitivity. Ongoing
research aims to improve the performance of optical sweat sensors by exploring advanced photonic
materials, miniaturized sensor designs, and signal processing algorithms.

To enhance the suitability of sweat-based bioelectronic systems for energy storage, it is crucial to carefully
consider the stability of electrodes due to the complex composition of sweat, which can lead to corrosion
and fouling. We should optimize the electrolyte composition and concentration to facilitate efficient ion
transport while minimizing interference from sweat components. Investigating water retention within the
systems is essential for the long-term functionality of sweat energy storage devices. Additionally, an efficient
energy management system can maximize power utilization and stability.

From the data display perspective, real-time monitoring and transmission of human sweat marker
fluctuations enable the visualization and early warning of health status through visual and tactile data
display methods. Advances in artificial intelligence algorithms facilitate health modeling and evaluation
based on existing data, enhancing our understanding of health conditions.

The application field of the practical device also determines the degree of emphasis on different challenges
in sweat electronics. For instance, in certain applications of sweat biomarkers monitoring, the device may
prioritize the sweat sampling and sensing performance, while the sweat-based energy harvester may have
more requirements in terms of electropower performance and biocompatibility. The data display has more
potential for health visualization and early warning of human status. All in all, the challenges and
opportunities in healthcare drive the advancement of flexible sweat sensors. Personalized data from these
wearables is crucial for precise medical practices, encouraging active engagement in health management.
Integrating consumer wearables with medical devices creates a connected network, providing
comprehensive insights for researchers and clinicians. The seamless incorporation of sweat sensors into
everyday routines augments the precision of personalized medicine.