A breakthrough in this field comes from a team of engineers at Caltech, who have developed a technique to mass-produce wearable sweat sensors using core–shell nanoparticle technology. These sensors provide real-time data on vitamins, hormones, metabolites, and medications, enabling better patient care.
Unlike conventional wearable sensors that rely on enzymatic reactions or fluorescent markers, these new sensors leverage molecularly imprinted core–shell nanoparticles. This unique approach ensures high specificity and stability, even in biological fluids, making them more reliable and long-lasting compared to existing alternatives. The ability to print these nanoparticles with inkjet technology also allows for scalable, cost-effective production, making personalized health monitoring more accessible.
Wearable biosensors incorporating these nanoparticles have already been successfully tested. They have monitored metabolites in patients suffering from long COVID and tracked chemotherapy drug levels in cancer patients at City of Hope in California.
The sensors work by using cubic nanoparticles that form in a solution containing the molecule to be tracked. These molecules are later removed, leaving behind a polymer shell with holes that precisely match their shape. This shell is combined with a stable nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) core, which reacts to bodily fluids, generating an electrical signal that weakens when the target molecule is present. This mechanism allows precise measurement of biomarker levels.
This technology is highly versatile, enabling the simultaneous tracking of multiple biomarkers by using different nanoparticle inks in a single sensor array. Researchers have already tested sensors that detect vitamin C, tryptophan, and creatinine—key biomarkers for long COVID patients. Similarly, they have developed sensors for monitoring antitumor drug levels in cancer patients.
These innovations pave the way for personalized medicine, where drug dosages can be adjusted in real-time for each patient. Furthermore, the technology could be adapted for implantable sensors placed under the skin for even more precise monitoring. As Gao highlights, this breakthrough brings us closer to real-time, patient-specific treatment optimization across a range of medical conditions.
Article written by Kimm Fesenmaier
09/02/2025
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