Textured elastomeric interface actuated sustainable and bacteriostatic sensors for wearable electronics in healthcare

Abstract

Flexible pressure sensors are highly demanded to digitize physical and biological signals for therapeutic and healthcare analyses, yet facing significant challenges for long-term wearability due to bacterial adhesion that compromises the data stability in addition to hygiene concerns. To date, few studies address the impact of bacterial adhesion on sensor performance, durability, and lifespan under prolonged wearing conditions. Herein, we investigate the performance stability of wearable flexible sensors under prone bacterial growth environment, where micro-nano elastomeric interface, designed to enhance sensing performance effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion and resist biofilm formation. The antibacterial mechanisms are through created interfacial energy gradients by nano-pillar structures and disabled bacterial interaction by micron-scale interwoven structures to block signaling paths through parallel concave lines. The adhesion rates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus can be reduced by over 90 %, resulting less than 2.69 % sensing signal variation, which substantially mitigate the detrimental effects of biofouling on pulsatile waveform detection when wearing. The resulted wearable sensor ensures reliable healthcare monitoring continuously through the day. This study unravel sensor design strategy by incorporating tailored micro-nanostructured elastomeric sensing film to ensure pressure sensor performance yet enhanced sensor's hygiene effectiveness for wearability and longivity.