This invention introduces a flexible, multi-layer nanocomposite membrane that solves common problems with current wearable sensors, which often struggle to be both sensitive and comfortable to wear. By combining functionalized gold nanoparticles with a fibrous scaffold, it enables low-cost, real-time detection of humidity, ions, and biomolecules while remaining breathable, flexible, and tunable for wearable and environmental applications.
Current wearable and flexible sensors struggle to balance sensitivity, selectivity, and mechanical comfort. Traditional thin-film or rigid oxide-based sensors limit flexibility and response speed, while paper and polymeric substrates lack chemical specificity and stability. Existing nanoparticle-enhanced sensors face challenges in controllable analyte transport and consistent nanoparticle attachment, hindering performance and scalability. There is a critical need for a breathable, tunable, and scalable sensing scaffold capable of combining high sensitivity with mechanical compliance for on-body and environmental monitoring.
The invention utilizes functionalized gold nanoparticles embedded within a three-layer nanofibrous scaffold composed of a cellulose nanofiber surface, an electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or cross-linked PEGDA mid-layer, and a PET nonwoven backing. Nanoparticles are immobilized using hydrogen-bonding linkers such as 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and/or electrostatic binders like poly(diallyldimethylammonium), providing tunable hydrophobic/hydrophilic and ionic interactions. These features control analyte permeability and improve sensitivity to humidity, ionic species, and sweat solutes while maintaining flexibility and low-cost manufacturability for wearable or disposable sensors.
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• Tunable sensitivity and selectivity through chemical modification of nanoparticle linkers.
• Enhanced flexibility and mechanical comfort for wearable and conformal applications.
• Controlled water and ion permeability for reliable sensing under variable humidity.
• Low-cost, scalable fabrication using commercially available fibrous membranes.
• Multifunctional capability to detect humidity, VOCs, ions, and sweat-derived analytes.
• Robust nanoparticle attachment ensuring stability and reproducibility of response.
• Lightweight, breathable, and stretchable structure suitable for skin-mounted devices.
• Wearable sweat and electrolyte monitoring patches.
• Smart humidity and volatile organic compound packaging sensors.
• Portable field test strips for water quality and ion detection.
• Environmental and industrial chemical sensing platforms.
• Flexible biosensors for health and fitness tracking.
• Smart textiles integrating embedded chemical sensing functions.
• United States US 11,331,019 - Issued 5/17/2022
• United States US 2022-0265173 A1 - Pending
Prototype patches demonstrated under controlled laboratory sensing conditions
This technology is available for licensing.
Strong potential for wearable technology developers, environmental monitoring companies, and healthcare device manufacturers seeking flexible, low-cost, and high-performance sensing platforms for real-time detection applications.
Information available upon request.