Researchers report a wearable device for monitoring stress levels using sweat biomarkers. Soft, wearable devices capable of monitoring multiple biomarkers in sweat can help track human nutrition and wellness. John Rogers, Paul Braun, Jahyun Koo, Roozbeh Ghaffari, and colleagues describe a device that uses multiple methods to quantitatively measure biomarkers related to physical and mental stress. The device uses a "skeletal" design, in which sturdy microfluidic structures are embedded within a flexible matrix. Cortisol, an adrenal hormone secreted in response to stress, is measured using a lateral flow immunoassay, the sensitivity of which was comparable to a reliable benchtop assay. Cortisol secretion leads to elevated glucose levels, whereas vitamin C can reduce cortisol levels; the device measures glucose and vitamin C levels via a fluorescence-based assay. Electrodes in the device measure sweat rate and skin electrical resistance, both of which also change in response to stress. The device can be controlled--and measurements read out--via a smartphone. In field studies, four healthy volunteers exhibited circadian rhythms in cortisol levels under control conditions, which became disrupted following a period of intensive work and returned to normal after regular sleep patterns were resumed. According to the authors, the device could be used for noninvasive, real-time monitoring of stress levels.
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Article #20-12700: “Soft, skin-interfaced microfluidic systems with integrated immunoassays, fluorometric sensors, and impedance measurement capabilities,” by Sungbong Kim, Boram Lee, Jonathan T. Reeder, Seon Hee Seo, et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: John A. Rogers, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; tel: 847-467-2997; e-mail: jrogers@northwestern.edu ; Paul V. Braun, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL; tel: 217-244-7293; e-mail: pbraun@illinois.edu ; Jahyun Koo, Korea University, Seoul, REPUBLIC OF KOREA; e-mail: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences