Fabrication of Conductive, Adhesive, and Stretchable Agarose-Based Hydrogels for a Wearable Biosensor

Abstract

Herein, a strategy is proposed to prepare a conductive, self-adhesive, and stretchable agarose gel with the merits of distinct heat resistance, freeze resistance, and long-term moisture retention. To endow the gels with conductivity, monodisperse carbon nanotubes modified by polydopamine are introduced into the gel networks, which promote both conductivity and mechanical strength of the gels. Meanwhile, further addition of glycerol enhances excellent stretchability as well as heating/freezing tolerability and moisture retention of the gels. A wearable biosensor based on the gel is fabricated to record body motions precisely with good biocompatibility, which benefits the development of smart wearable devices.

Breathable, Antibacterial, and Biocompatible Collagen Fiber Network Decorated with Zwitterionic Silver Nanoparticles for Plantar Pressure Monitoring

“…Nonirritant is another important factor for body-used materials . If the material proves to be irritating, its application will be greatly limited.…”

“…Nonirritant is another important factor for body-used materials. 55 If the material proves to be irritating, its application will be greatly limited. Here, a dermal irritability test was conducted to assess the irritation probability of the PCBDA@AgNPs-CFN.…”

Colorimetric Nanoparticle-Embedded Hydrogels for a Biosensing Platform

“…As shown in Figure 7 d, the PNHC wearable patch was manufactured in 0.8 cm × 1.2 cm × 0.3 cm in width, length, and height. Because of the excellent physical properties of PNHC, that is, its high mechanical strength and adhesion ability to the skin, it can be used as an attachable patch-type wearable biosensor [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Furthermore, the PNHCs maintained their shape and color stability while being attached to the skin ( Figure 7 d).…”

Elastic Agarose Nanowire Aerogels for Oil–Water Separation and Thermal Insulation

“…Compared with other inorganic materials, HANAs as a natural polymer material are biodegradable because of their source of raw materials, structural characteristics, and gel properties. AG is a biocompatible polysaccharide extracted from seaweed, containing repeated agarobiose (disaccharide of d -galactopyranose and 3,6-anhydro- l -galactopyranose) and can be fabricated as a thermal-reversible gel. , The gelation and melting point of AG vary from 30–40 °C to 80–90 °C, respectively, which depends on its molecular weight, concentration, and number of side groups . Remarkably, oxygen and hydrogen in the side groups of this natural carbohydrate polymer support its self-gelling feature, which are in sharp contrast to traditional inorganic aerogel materials such as silica gelation prepared through acid or base catalysis.…”

“…Agarose (AG), a marine algae-derived polysaccharide, is a linear biopolymer composed of agarobiose (disaccharide of β- d -galactose and 3,6-anhydro- l -galactose) as repeating units with strong gel-forming features and can be fabricated as a thermoreversible gel. − In the AG gelation process, hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interaction creates a helical structure of the AG molecules and then forms a gel . In particular, the gelation process of AG aerogels is a physical process without any chemical crosslinking agents, unlike the gelation of other biobased nanomaterials .…”