Researchers from Binghamton University created a material that can bind sensors and adhere them to surfaces to create wearables that can gather data even when the wearer is sweating.

The new material is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This silicone material has been a popular choice for wearables because of its biocompatibility and soft mechanics. It is generally used to create solid films, a nonporous material. This is a problem because it can lead to problems in sensor breathability and sweat evaporation.

The new sensor works even when the user is sweating.

Sweat can cause inflammation and inaccuracies in continuous monitoring. A porous PDMS material would allow the sweat to evaporate during exercise and maintain a high-resolution signal through the whole exercise session. The team used electrospinning to create a porous PDMS material using electrospinning.

Mechanical testing proved the new material was similar to collagen. The material can behave like a dry adhesive, which allowed the elastic fibers to act like the human epidermis for adhesive-free monitoring.

Biocompatibility and viability testing showed that the new material performed better after seven days of use compared to nonporous PDMS film. The permeable structure is capable of biofluid, small molecule and gas diffusion. It can be integrated with soft biological tissue like skin, neutral and cardiac tissue with reduced inflammation.

There are many potential applications for the PDMS material. This includes healing long term and chronic wounds, breathable electronics for oxygen and carbon dioxide respiratory monitoring, devices that integrate human cells with implantable electronic devices, real-time in-vitro chemical and biological monitoring.

A paper on this new research was published in Advanced Materials Technology.