Research

The internet of things (IoT) has been popular among us for health monitoring. In particular, wearable sweat sensor stands out as a great candidate because of its ability to noninvasively inform users about elusive biomarkers at the molecular level. Sweat possesses the property of natural secretion and is abundant in biomolecules, such as electrolytes, metabolites, xenobiotic molecules, and heavy metals. Our project aims to demonstrate noninvasive and multiplexed sensing of biomolecules through interfacing printed circuit boards and electrode arrays.

Selected Publications:

(1) Science Advances, 6, eabb8308, 2020.

(2) Nano Letters, 19, 6346-6351, 2019.

(3) ACS Sensors, 4, 1925-1933, 2019.

(4) Advanced Materials, 30, 1707442, 2018.

(5) IEEE IEDM Technical Digest, 6.6.1-6.6.2, 2016.

Machine learning can be used to analyze bio-molecular data for health and disease monitoring. By combining sensors and deep learning techniques, we can gain further insight into a subject’s health status. We will target various physiological information from biosensors, such as metabolites, electrolytes, xenobiotic molecules, and hormones, as well as physical parameters such as body temperature, skin humidity, heart rate, and sensorimotor responses, to understand the connections between a person’s physiological and pathological states with various biomarkers. The goal is to generate predictive algorithms that allow wearable sensors to provide early alarms for potential health risks for an individual. 

Selected Publications:

(1) ACS Sensors, 5, 1831-1837, 2020.

(2) Scientific Reports, 6, 21471, 2016.

Sweat collection on a wearable device allows for quantifiable sweat rate, which has important applications on medical diagnoses of cystic fibrosis, fluid loss, and electrolyte imbalance. In our recent work, we have demonstrated the integration of microfluidic channels with electrochemical sensors to capture and accumulate sweat in small volumes and with minimal evaporation. The nature of the microfluidic system allows freshly secreted sweat to enter and improve the accuracy of sensor measurements. Thus, this system provides an essential piece of information for accurate sweat analysis. 

Selected Publications:

(1) Lab on a Chip, 19, 3179-3189, 2019.

(2) Science Advances, 5, eaaw9906, 2019.

(3) ACS Sensors, 3, 994-952, 2018.

US National Academy of Medicine Healthy Longevity Global Competition Award (2022)