Wearable and Regenerable Electrochemical Fabric Sensing System Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Real-Time Stress Management

Seamlessly integrating biosensors into clothing for personalized stress level monitoring, specifically targeting cortisol, a stress-related compound found in sweat, shows great potential for efficiently monitoring and managing individual mental and physical well-being. Nevertheless, realizing the fabric biosensor faces a notable challenge, as it involves the persistent obstacle of ensuring reusability and washability. Here, a fabric sensing system constructed by a fiber electrode for rapid and reliable cortisol detection with high repeatability, breathability, and stability is reported. The fibers are assembled from aligned carbon nanotubes and functionalized with a molecularly imprinted polymer containing redox-active nanoreporters. Through washing with ethanol, the fabricated fabric sensor exhibits high reusability for over 100 cycles detecting cortisol. The key is the large active surface area and elaborately designed channel distance in the fiber electrode, ensuring a stable interface between the polymer and the fiber electrode. The resulting fabric sensing system presents convenient monitoring of cortisol levels, allowing assessment of stress levels to understand emotions and health condition better.