Sweat Signals:
What Your Skin Knows Before You Do
Chang-Ho Han, KIST Europe
(Titelbild:© Adobe Stock | 1087852449 | JDDay)
Kurz und Bündig
Skin-worn microfluidic biosensors collect sweat or tears to measure glucose, electrolytes, lactate, pH, or inflammation—without needles. They use enzyme-coated or colorimetric sensors, flexible substrates, and wireless data transfer. Applications span diabetes, sports, wound care, and stress monitoring. Challenges include calibration, sample volume, sensor stability, power supply, and privacy.
A patch the size of a coin sits quietly on the skin. No pain, no wires, no lab visits—yet it continuously monitors what’s happening inside the body. Glucose, hydration, even signs of infection are tracked in real time, through sweat or tears. It sounds simple, almost invisible. But behind this ease lies a complex system of sensors, chemistry, and data. What does it take to bring such subtle technology to life—and into everyday healthcare?
