Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning

Abstract Heat exhaustion is a prevalent heat-related illness among firefighters, posing a severe threat to life without timely intervention. However, current firefighter garments are limited by their singular functionality and cannot collect or analyze body fluid during rescue missions. Here, we int...

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Main Authors: Ming Li, Ganghua Li, Zengqing Li, Yalin Tang, Ruidong Xu, Tong Xu, Yiwen Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Lijun Qu, Binghao Wang, Yingkui Yang, Mingwei Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Flexible Electronics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00392-w
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author Ming Li
Ganghua Li
Zengqing Li
Yalin Tang
Ruidong Xu
Tong Xu
Yiwen Wang
Yuanyuan Liu
Lijun Qu
Binghao Wang
Yingkui Yang
Mingwei Tian
author_facet Ming Li
Ganghua Li
Zengqing Li
Yalin Tang
Ruidong Xu
Tong Xu
Yiwen Wang
Yuanyuan Liu
Lijun Qu
Binghao Wang
Yingkui Yang
Mingwei Tian
author_sort Ming Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Heat exhaustion is a prevalent heat-related illness among firefighters, posing a severe threat to life without timely intervention. However, current firefighter garments are limited by their singular functionality and cannot collect or analyze body fluid during rescue missions. Here, we introduce a wetting gradient effect assisted ultrasensitive meta-garment that incorporates multi-signal biomonitoring, offering an early warning system for heat exhaustion risk. This design enables real-time detection of heart rate, pH value, and the concentrations of glucose, sodium, and potassium in sweat. Benefiting from the surface energy difference, gradient wettability surfaces can be formed, allowing for precise point-to-point fluid control and regulation. Thus, the biosensing fibers require the lowest detection volume (0.1 μL) and fastest response time (1.4 s) reported to date. This innovative garment provides a practical solution for early health warning based on abnormal multi-biomarker changes, representing a significant advancement in firefighter safety.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 2397-4621
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Flexible Electronics
spelling doaj-art-95fc9fea5fcb4da79cb306e180e2fc112025-08-20T02:59:56ZengNature Portfolionpj Flexible Electronics2397-46212025-03-01911910.1038/s41528-025-00392-wUltrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warningMing Li0Ganghua Li1Zengqing Li2Yalin Tang3Ruidong Xu4Tong Xu5Yiwen Wang6Yuanyuan Liu7Lijun Qu8Binghao Wang9Yingkui Yang10Mingwei Tian11Research Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityQingdao BeginSmart Technology Co. LTDResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversitySchool of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast UniversityState Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing Technologies, Wuhan Textile UniversityResearch Center of Health and Protective Smart Textiles, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao UniversityAbstract Heat exhaustion is a prevalent heat-related illness among firefighters, posing a severe threat to life without timely intervention. However, current firefighter garments are limited by their singular functionality and cannot collect or analyze body fluid during rescue missions. Here, we introduce a wetting gradient effect assisted ultrasensitive meta-garment that incorporates multi-signal biomonitoring, offering an early warning system for heat exhaustion risk. This design enables real-time detection of heart rate, pH value, and the concentrations of glucose, sodium, and potassium in sweat. Benefiting from the surface energy difference, gradient wettability surfaces can be formed, allowing for precise point-to-point fluid control and regulation. Thus, the biosensing fibers require the lowest detection volume (0.1 μL) and fastest response time (1.4 s) reported to date. This innovative garment provides a practical solution for early health warning based on abnormal multi-biomarker changes, representing a significant advancement in firefighter safety.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00392-w
spellingShingle Ming Li
Ganghua Li
Zengqing Li
Yalin Tang
Ruidong Xu
Tong Xu
Yiwen Wang
Yuanyuan Liu
Lijun Qu
Binghao Wang
Yingkui Yang
Mingwei Tian
Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
npj Flexible Electronics
title Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
title_full Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
title_fullStr Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
title_full_unstemmed Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
title_short Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning
title_sort ultrasensitive biosensing meta garment via wetting gradient effect for heat exhaustion warning
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00392-w
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