a team from the university of california, irvine has developed an ultra-thin, flexible, wearable skin‑patch sensor that can simultaneously and non‑invasively monitor in real time four key biomarkers—cortisol, glucose, lactate, and urea—corresponding respectively to stress levels, glycemic status, exercise intensity, and kidney function.
the device employs near-field electromagnetic coupling technology, drawing wireless power from a smartphone or a dedicated reader, eliminating the need for an onboard battery. its groundbreaking design integrates a self‑regenerating sensing interface: by applying a weak pulsed voltage, it dynamically removes interfering molecules adsorbed on the electrode surface, consistently maintaining high sensitivity and measurement stability, thereby effectively addressing the challenge of signal degradation caused by biofouling in conventional wearable sensors.
more importantly, the patch is equipped with a miniature electrostimulation module that can autonomously and controllably induce minute sweat secretion even at rest, completely removing reliance on exercise‑induced sweating. this feature significantly enhances clinical applicability and user compliance, offering a new technological pathway for long‑term home monitoring and personalized management of conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, anxiety disorders, and metabolic syndrome.
