Redox-Concatenated Aptamer Integrated Skin Mimicking Electrochemical Patch for Noninvasive Detection of Cortisol.

This research focuses on developing and validating a wearable electrochemical biosensor called the concatenated aptamer integrated skin patch, also known as the Captain Patch. The main objective is to detect cortisol levels in sweat, which can provide valuable insights into an individual's health. The biosensor utilizes a corrugated surface that mimics the skin, allowing for better attachment and an improved electrochemical performance. The study demonstrates the successful application of Captain Patch on the human body by using artificially spiked sweat samples. The results indicate good measurement accuracy and conformity when the patch is worn on the body. However, for long-term usage, the patch needs to be changed every 3-4 h or worn three times a day to enable monitoring of cortisol levels. Despite the need for frequent patch changes, the cost-effectiveness and ease of operation make these skin patches suitable for longitudinal cortisol monitoring and other sweat analytes. By customization of the biorecognition probe, the developed biowearable can be used to monitor a variety of vital biomarkers. Overall, Captain Patch, with its capability of detecting specific health markers such as cortisol, hints at the future potential of wearables to offer valuable data on various other biomarkers. Our approach presents the first step in integrating a cost-effective wearable electrochemical patch integrated with a redox-concatenated aptamer for noninvasive biomarker detection. This personalized approach to monitoring can lead to improved patient outcomes and increased patient engagement in managing their health.

Recent Advances, Opportunities, and Challenges in Developing Nucleic Acid Integrated Wearable Biosensors for Expanding the Capabilities of Wearable Technologies in Health Monitoring.

Wearable biosensors are becoming increasingly popular due to the rise in demand for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of health and personalized medicine. Traditionally, wearable biosensors have explored protein-based enzymatic and affinity-based detection strategies. However, in the past decade, with the success of nucleic acid-based point-of-care diagnostics, a paradigm shift has been observed in integrating nucleic acid-based assays into wearable sensors, offering better stability, enhanced analytical performance, and better clinical applicability. This narrative review builds upon the current state and advances in utilizing nucleic acid-based assays, including oligonucleotides, nucleic acid, aptamers, and CRISPR-Cas, in wearable biosensing. The review also discusses the three fundamental blocks, i.e., fabrication requirements, biomolecule integration, and transduction mechanism, for creating nucleic acid integrated wearable biosensors.