A non-contact wearable device for monitoring epidermal molecular flux

Jaeho Shin, Joseph Woojin Song, Matthew Thomas Flavin, Seunghee Cho, Shupeng Li, Ansen Tan, Kyung Rok Pyun, Aaron G Huang, Huifeng Wang, Seongmin Jeong, Kenneth E. Madsen, Jacob Trueb, Mirae Kim, Katelynn Nguyen, Angela Yang, Yaching Hsu, Winnie Sung, Jiwon Lee, Sooyeol Phyo, Ji-Hoon Kim, Anthony Banks, Jan-Kai Chang, Amy S. Paller, Yonggang Huang (), Guillermo A. Ameer () and John A. Rogers ()
Additional contact information
Jaeho Shin: Northwestern University
Joseph Woojin Song: Northwestern University
Matthew Thomas Flavin: Northwestern University
Seunghee Cho: Northwestern University
Shupeng Li: Northwestern University
Ansen Tan: Northwestern University
Kyung Rok Pyun: Northwestern University
Aaron G Huang: Northwestern University
Huifeng Wang: Northwestern University
Seongmin Jeong: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Kenneth E. Madsen: Northwestern University
Jacob Trueb: Northwestern University
Mirae Kim: Northwestern University
Katelynn Nguyen: Northwestern University
Angela Yang: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Yaching Hsu: Wearifi Inc
Winnie Sung: Northwestern University
Jiwon Lee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Sooyeol Phyo: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Ji-Hoon Kim: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Anthony Banks: Northwestern University
Jan-Kai Chang: Northwestern University
Amy S. Paller: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Yonggang Huang: Northwestern University
Guillermo A. Ameer: Northwestern University
John A. Rogers: Northwestern University

Nature, 2025, vol. 640, issue 8058, 375-383

Abstract: Abstract Existing wearable technologies rely on physical coupling to the body to establish optical1,2, fluidic3,4, thermal5,6 and/or mechanical7,8 measurement interfaces. Here we present a class of wearable device platforms that instead relies on physical decoupling to define an enclosed chamber immediately adjacent to the skin surface. Streams of vapourized molecular substances that pass out of or into the skin alter the properties of the microclimate defined in this chamber in ways that can be precisely quantified using an integrated collection of wireless sensors. A programmable, bistable valve dynamically controls access to the surrounding environment, thereby creating a transient response that can be quantitatively related to the inward and outward fluxes of the targeted species by analysing the time-dependent readings from the sensors. The systems reported here offer unique capabilities in measuring the flux of water vapour, volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide from various locations on the body, each with distinct relevance to clinical care and/or exposure to hazardous vapours. Studies of healing processes associated with dermal wounds in models of healthy and diabetic mice and of responses in models using infected wounds reveal characteristic flux variations that provide important insights, particularly in scenarios in which the non-contact operation of the devices avoids potential damage to fragile tissues.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08825-2

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