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Li et al. Soft Sci 2023;3:37 Soft Science
DOI: 10.20517/ss.2023.30

Review Article Open Access

Recent advancements in liquid metal enabled

flexible and wearable biosensors

3,*
2
1,#
2,#
Guoqiang Li , Sanhu Liu , Zhiwu Xu , Jinhong Guo , Shi-Yang Tang 4,5,* , Xing Ma 1,2,*
1
Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
(Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China.
2
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
3
School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
4
Department of Electronic Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.
5
School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
#
Authors contributed equally.
* Correspondence to: Prof. Xing Ma, Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin
Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), No. 6 Pingshan 1st Road, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China. E-mail: maxing@hit.edu.cn;
Prof. Shi-Yang Tang, Department of Electronic Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Rd,
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. E-mail: Shiyang.Tang@soton.ac.uk; Prof. Jinhong Guo, School of Sensing Science and
Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 1954 Huashan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200240, China. E-mail:
guojinhong@sjtu.edu.cn
How to cite this article: Li G, Liu S, Xu Z, Guo J, Tang SY, Ma X. Recent advancements in liquid metal enabled flexible and
wearable biosensors. Soft Sci 2023;3:37. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ss.2023.30
Received: 28 Jun 2023 First Decision: 28 Jul 2023 Revised: 13 Aug 2023 Accepted: 22 Aug 2023 Published: 16 Oct 2023

Academic Editor: Zhifeng Ren Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
Wearable biosensors have demonstrated enormous potential in revolutionizing healthcare by providing real-time
fitness tracking, enabling remote patient monitoring, and facilitating early detection of health issues. To better
sense vital life signals, researchers are increasingly favoring wearable biosensors with flexible properties that can
be seamlessly integrated with human tissues, achieved through the utilization of soft materials. Gallium (Ga)-
based liquid metals (LMs) possess desirable properties, such as fluidity, high conductivity, and negligible toxicity,
which make them inherently soft and well-suited for the fabrication of flexible and wearable biosensors. In this
article, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the nascent realm of flexible and
wearable biosensors employing LMs as key components. This paper provides a detailed exposition of the unique
characteristics of Ga-based LM materials, which set them apart from traditional materials. Moreover, the state-of-
the-art applications of Ga-based LMs in flexible and wearable biosensors that expounded from six aspects are
reviewed, including wearable interconnects, pressure sensors, strain sensors, temperature sensors, and
implantable bioelectrodes. Furthermore, perspectives on the key challenges and future developing directions of

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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