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.
Background:
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.
Technology Overview:
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.
Advantages:
• 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.
Applications:
• 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.
Intellectual Property Summary:
• United States US 11,331,019 - Issued 5/17/2022 • United States US 2022-0265173 A1 - Pending
Stage of Development:
Prototype patches demonstrated under controlled laboratory sensing conditions
Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
Licensing Potential:
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.
Additional Information:
Information available upon request.
Inventors: Benjamin Hsiao, Ning Kang, Jing Li, Jin Luo, Mark Poliks, Shiyao Shan, Shan Yan, Chuan Jian Zhong
Alternate NCS Title: Flexible Gold-Nanoparticle Nanofiber Sensors for Wearable and Environmental Monitoring