Toward a new generation of smart skins

Rapid advances in soft electronics, microfabrication technologies, miniaturization and electronic skins are facilitating the development of wearable sensor devices that are highly conformable and intimately associated with human skin. These devices—referred to as ‘smart skins’—offer new opportunities in the research study of human biology, in physiological tracking for fitness and wellness applications, and in the examination and treatment of medical conditions. Over the past 12 months, electronic skins have been developed that are self-healing, intrinsically stretchable, designed into an artificial afferent nerve, and even self-powered. Greater collaboration between engineers, biologists, informaticians and clinicians will be required for smart skins to realize their full potential and attain wide adoption in a diverse range of real-world settings.

[1]  Phillip Won,et al.  A soft, wearable microfluidic device for the capture, storage, and colorimetric sensing of sweat , 2016, Science Translational Medicine.

[2]  Patrik Brundin,et al.  Pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease: dopamine, vesicles and alpha-synuclein. , 2002, Nature reviews. Neuroscience.

[3]  Rainer Schmidt,et al.  The cornified envelope: a model of cell death in the skin , 2005, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.

[4]  Kukjoo Kim,et al.  Stretchable, Transparent Electrodes as Wearable Heaters Using Nanotrough Networks of Metallic Glasses with Superior Mechanical Properties and Thermal Stability. , 2016, Nano letters.

[5]  Virgilio Mattoli,et al.  Roll to roll processing of ultraconformable conducting polymer nanosheets , 2015 .

[6]  G. Kenny,et al.  Considerations for the measurement of core, skin and mean body temperatures. , 2014, Journal of thermal biology.

[7]  Joseph Wang,et al.  A wearable chemical–electrophysiological hybrid biosensing system for real-time health and fitness monitoring , 2016, Nature Communications.

[8]  J. Segre,et al.  Epidermal barrier formation and recovery in skin disorders. , 2006, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[9]  Keisuke Nagao,et al.  Functional tight junction barrier localizes in the second layer of the stratum granulosum of human epidermis. , 2013, Journal of dermatological science.

[10]  D. Becker,et al.  Fundamentals of electrocardiography interpretation. , 2006, Anesthesia progress.

[11]  M. Kaltenbrunner,et al.  An ultra-lightweight design for imperceptible plastic electronics , 2013, Nature.

[12]  Yoshiharu Ohashi,et al.  The stratum corneum comprises three layers with distinct metal-ion barrier properties , 2013, Scientific Reports.

[13]  T. Someya,et al.  Conformable, flexible, large-area networks of pressure and thermal sensors with organic transistor active matrixes. , 2005, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[14]  Torkil Menné,et al.  Metal allergy--a review on exposures, penetration, genetics, prevalence, and clinical implications. , 2010, Chemical research in toxicology.

[15]  Makoto Suematsu,et al.  Epidermal cell turnover across tight junctions based on Kelvin's tetrakaidecahedron cell shape , 2016, eLife.

[16]  Robert C. Wolpert,et al.  A Review of the , 1985 .

[17]  Keisuke Nagao,et al.  Stress-induced production of chemokines by hair follicles regulates the trafficking of dendritic cells in skin , 2012, Nature Immunology.

[18]  Enrico Gratton,et al.  Two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging of the skin stratum corneum pH gradient. , 2002, Biophysical journal.

[19]  Enzo Pasquale Scilingo,et al.  A Novel Algorithm for Movement Artifact Removal in ECG Signals Acquired from Wearable Systems Applied to Horses , 2015, PloS one.

[20]  T. Someya,et al.  Self-powered ultra-flexible electronics via nano-grating-patterned organic photovoltaics , 2018, Nature.

[21]  L. Piwek,et al.  The Rise of Consumer Health Wearables: Promises and Barriers , 2016, PLoS medicine.

[22]  Dae-Hyeong Kim,et al.  Multifunctional wearable devices for diagnosis and therapy of movement disorders. , 2014, Nature nanotechnology.

[23]  Nurhazimah Nazmi,et al.  A Review of Classification Techniques of EMG Signals during Isotonic and Isometric Contractions , 2016, Sensors.

[24]  Alexander J. Casson,et al.  Description of a Database Containing Wrist PPG Signals Recorded during Physical Exercise with Both Accelerometer and Gyroscope Measures of Motion , 2017, Data.

[25]  Hye Rim Cho,et al.  Wearable/disposable sweat-based glucose monitoring device with multistage transdermal drug delivery module , 2017, Science Advances.

[26]  James J S Norton,et al.  Epidermal mechano-acoustic sensing electronics for cardiovascular diagnostics and human-machine interfaces , 2016, Science Advances.

[27]  Takao Someya,et al.  The rise of plastic bioelectronics , 2016, Nature.

[28]  Julia Brasch,et al.  Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis: The SCORAD Index , 1993 .

[29]  Ophir Vermesh,et al.  Toward achieving precision health , 2018, Science Translational Medicine.

[30]  Zhenan Bao,et al.  A bioinspired flexible organic artificial afferent nerve , 2018, Science.

[31]  Franklin Bien,et al.  Wearable smart sensor systems integrated on soft contact lenses for wireless ocular diagnostics , 2017, Nature Communications.

[32]  Jonathan A. Fan,et al.  Stretchable batteries with self-similar serpentine interconnects and integrated wireless recharging systems , 2013, Nature Communications.

[33]  K. Mabuchi,et al.  Ultraflexible, large-area, physiological temperature sensors for multipoint measurements , 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[34]  Yuhao Liu,et al.  Lab-on-Skin: A Review of Flexible and Stretchable Electronics for Wearable Health Monitoring. , 2017, ACS nano.

[35]  Jian Cheng,et al.  Flexible Batteries: From Mechanics to Devices , 2016 .

[36]  C. V. Van Itallie,et al.  Architecture of tight junctions and principles of molecular composition. , 2014, Seminars in cell & developmental biology.

[37]  A. Taïeb,et al.  Severity scoring of atopic dermatitis: the SCORAD index. Consensus Report of the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis. , 1993, Dermatology.

[38]  Yonggang Huang,et al.  Materials and Mechanics for Stretchable Electronics , 2010, Science.

[39]  S. Quake,et al.  An implantable microfluidic device for self-monitoring of intraocular pressure , 2014, Nature Medicine.

[40]  Howard I Maibach,et al.  Percutaneous absorption of water in skin: a review , 2014, Reviews on environmental health.

[41]  Sam Emaminejad,et al.  Autonomous sweat extraction and analysis applied to cystic fibrosis and glucose monitoring using a fully integrated wearable platform , 2017, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[42]  David C. Klonoff,et al.  Noninvasive Blood Glucose Monitoring , 1997, Diabetes Care.

[43]  S. Yao,et al.  Wearable multifunctional sensors using printed stretchable conductors made of silver nanowires. , 2014, Nanoscale.

[44]  Takao Someya,et al.  A large-area, flexible pressure sensor matrix with organic field-effect transistors for artificial skin applications. , 2004, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[45]  Chanseok Lee,et al.  Ultrasensitive mechanical crack-based sensor inspired by the spider sensory system , 2014, Nature.

[46]  Keisuke Nagao,et al.  Epidermal barrier dysfunction and cutaneous sensitization in atopic diseases. , 2012, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[47]  S. Debener,et al.  Unobtrusive ambulatory EEG using a smartphone and flexible printed electrodes around the ear , 2015, Scientific Reports.

[48]  J. Windmiller,et al.  Electrochemical tattoo biosensors for real-time noninvasive lactate monitoring in human perspiration. , 2013, Analytical chemistry.

[49]  Claire M. Lochner,et al.  Monitoring of Vital Signs with Flexible and Wearable Medical Devices , 2016, Advanced materials.

[50]  Jung Woo Lee,et al.  Battery-free, stretchable optoelectronic systems for wireless optical characterization of the skin , 2016, Science Advances.

[51]  E. Chiauzzi,et al.  Patient-centered activity monitoring in the self-management of chronic health conditions , 2015, BMC Medicine.

[52]  Taeghwan Hyeon,et al.  Ultrathin Quantum Dot Display Integrated with Wearable Electronics , 2017, Advanced materials.

[53]  Antonio Ceriello,et al.  Impaired glucose tolerance and cardiovascular disease: the possible role of post-prandial hyperglycemia. , 2004, American heart journal.

[54]  Takeshi Matsui,et al.  Dissecting the formation, structure and barrier function of the stratum corneum. , 2015, International immunology.

[55]  Claire M. Lochner,et al.  All-organic optoelectronic sensor for pulse oximetry , 2014, Nature Communications.

[56]  Brian Litt,et al.  Drug discovery: A jump-start for electroceuticals , 2013, Nature.

[57]  M. Graeber,et al.  The eczema area and severity index (EASI): assessment of reliability in atopic dermatitis , 2001, Experimental dermatology.

[58]  Alan S Campbell,et al.  Wearable non-invasive epidermal glucose sensors: A review. , 2018, Talanta.

[59]  Sam Emaminejad,et al.  Fully integrated wearable sensor arrays for multiplexed in situ perspiration analysis , 2016, Nature.

[60]  Taeghwan Hyeon,et al.  Enzyme‐Based Glucose Sensor: From Invasive to Wearable Device , 2018, Advanced healthcare materials.

[61]  Johann W Wiechers,et al.  Water distribution and related morphology in human stratum corneum at different hydration levels. , 2003, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[62]  R. Ghaffari,et al.  Recent Advances in Flexible and Stretchable Bio‐Electronic Devices Integrated with Nanomaterials , 2016, Advanced materials.

[63]  Shoichiro Tsukita,et al.  Multifunctional strands in tight junctions , 2001, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.

[64]  Nitish V. Thakor,et al.  Prosthesis with neuromorphic multilayered e-dermis perceives touch and pain , 2018, Science Robotics.

[65]  Seok Hyun Yun,et al.  Contact Lens Sensors in Ocular Diagnostics , 2015, Advanced healthcare materials.

[66]  Yonggang Huang,et al.  Epidermal radio frequency electronics for wireless power transfer , 2016, Microsystems & Nanoengineering.

[67]  Benjamin C. K. Tee,et al.  Flexible polymer transistors with high pressure sensitivity for application in electronic skin and health monitoring , 2013, Nature Communications.

[68]  Boris Murmann,et al.  Skin electronics from scalable fabrication of an intrinsically stretchable transistor array , 2018, Nature.

[69]  Raeed H. Chowdhury,et al.  Epidermal Electronics , 2011, Science.

[70]  John A Rogers,et al.  Skin-interfaced systems for sweat collection and analytics , 2018, Science Advances.

[71]  Xiaodan Gu,et al.  Intrinsically stretchable and healable semiconducting polymer for organic transistors , 2016, Nature.

[72]  Takao Someya,et al.  Inflammation-free, gas-permeable, lightweight, stretchable on-skin electronics with nanomeshes. , 2017, Nature nanotechnology.

[73]  Boris Murmann,et al.  Highly stretchable polymer semiconductor films through the nanoconfinement effect , 2017, Science.

[74]  M. Kaltenbrunner,et al.  Ultraflexible organic photonic skin , 2016, Science Advances.

[75]  T. Sun,et al.  Interaction of filaggrin with keratin filaments during advanced stages of normal human epidermal differentiation and in ichthyosis vulgaris. , 1991, Differentiation; research in biological diversity.

[76]  Flaura K Winston,et al.  Wearable health device dermatitis: a case of acrylate-related contact allergy. , 2017, Cutis.

[77]  James J. S. Norton,et al.  Soft, curved electrode systems capable of integration on the auricle as a persistent brain–computer interface , 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.