Liquid Metal‐Based Biosensors: Fundamentals and Applications

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 34; no. 31
• Main Authors: Jamalzadegan, Sina, Kim, Sooyoung, Mohammad, Noor, Koduri, Harshita, Hetzler, Zach, Lee, Giwon, Dickey, Michael D., Wei, Qingshan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-08-2024
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomonitoring; Biosensors; Chemical properties; Deformation wear; Electrical resistivity; Formability; Liquid metals; Motion perception; Parameters; Physical properties; Physiology; point‐of‐care; precision health; soft materials; Target detection; Telemedicine; wearable sensors
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202308173

Biosensors are analytical tools for monitoring various parameters related to living organisms, such as humans and plants. Liquid metals (LMs) have emerged as a promising new material for biosensing applications in recent years. LMs have attractive physical and chemical properties such as deformability, high thermal and electrical conductivity, low volatility, and low viscosity. LM‐based biosensors represent a new strategy in biosensing particularly for wearable and real‐time sensing. While early demonstrations of LM biosensors focus on monitoring physical parameters such as strain, motion, and temperature, recent examples show LM can be an excellent sensing material for biochemical and biomolecular detection as well. In this review, the recent progress of LM‐based biosensors for personalized healthcare and disease monitoring via both physical and biochemical signaling is survey. It is started with a brief introduction of the fundamentals of biosensors and LMs, followed by a discussion of different mechanisms by which LM can transduce biological or physiological signals. Next, it is reviewed example LM‐based biosensors that have been used in real biological systems, ranging from real‐time on‐skin physiological monitoring to target‐specific biochemical detection. Finally, the challenges and future directions of LM‐integrated biosensor platforms is discussed.
Liquid metal (LM) and its alloys are emerging as promising materials for biosensing applications due to their attractive physical and chemical properties. LM‐based biosensors present a novel strategy in biosensing, particularly for wearables and human health monitoring. Promising physiological and biochemical sensing applications of LM such as the detection of biomolecules, chemical compounds, and gases are highlighted and summarized.