In the new era of the Internet of Things (IoT) the ability to integrate sensors into textiles and garments opens the way to an endless number of applications that fall under the name of smart electronic textiles (e-textile) and wearable electronics. In this contest, our research is focussed on a broad spectrum of applications: conductive yarns, textile pressure sensors, textile bio-sensors for monitoring biomarkers in sweat, smart bandage for wound healing, textile Electrodes for monitoring the ElectroCardioGram (ECG).
Textile chemical bio sensors
We develop textile chemical sensors based on Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECT). In a OECT wereable bio sensors the current flowing in the organic channel can be modulated through the voltage applied to the gate electrode by electrochemical reactions that take place in an body fluid.
We investigate sensors geometries, electrical characterization, organic materials functionalization and textile sensors fabrication in order to optimized the OECT textile chemical sensors. We demonstrate the reliability of the textile OECTs to detect insweatmany redox active molecules:adrenaline,dopamine,ascorbic acidandCloride ions.
Textile OECT chemical bio sensors are a novel class of personalized point-of-care devices able to monitor biomarkers in biofluids (e.g.sweat ) that we implement in the form of fully textile wearable sensors, devices that actually “disappears” within the fabric. Low energy consuption and simple readout allow wireless connections for IoT applications.
Smart Bandage
Wound healing is a multifactorial physiological process governed by biochemical, physical, and environmental parameters.
We develop novel textile-integrated chemical sensors based on PEDOT:PSS, embedded within a flexible bandaid platfor, for non-invasive monitoring of key biomarkers in wound exudate as moisture levels, pH, uric acid concentration.
This approach represents a significant advancement in wound care diagnostics, offering continuous data acquisition without compromising the integrity of the healing tissue. The system holds promise for personalized treatment protocols and improved clinical outcomes through data-driven decision-making.
Textile ECG Electrodes
In collaboration with University of Cagliari, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, we developed textile electrodes for ElectroCardioGram (ECG) monitoring. A conductive polymer is deposited by screen printing directly on fabric. Main advantagies of the conductive polymer are the biocomaptibility and ion-to-electron transduction that allow to obtain dry electrodes for recording ECG, whitout adding electrolytic gels.
We are collaborating with the start-up LETs Wereable Solution s.r.l. to develop a smart T-shirt with textile ECG electrodes for helathcare applications.
Textile pressure sensors
We develop textile pressure sensors based on conductive polymers. By tuning of the properties of the conductive polymer and thanks to a dedicated design of the sensor configuration, we optimize the textile pressure sensors for any specific applications.
The low cost, fast and simple fabrication process based on screen printing allows to easily integrate textile pressure sensors into smart-garments. We are presently developing smart-gloves and smart-insole cycling shorts monitoring pressure distributions to prevent accidents at workplace or during training activities. We are developing those activity at new laboratory “SafetySensors” - SSAILL
Danilo Arcangeli, Isacco Gualandi, Federica Mariani, Marta Tessarolo, Francesca Ceccardi, Francesco Decataldo, Federico Melandri, Domenica Tonelli, Beatrice Fraboni, and Erika Scavetta, ACS SensorsOpen source preview, 2023, 8(4), pp. 1593–1608
Selective detection of liposoluble vitamins using an organic electrochemical transistor
Luca Salvigni, Federica Mariani, Isacco Gualandi, Francesco Decataldo, Marta Tessarolo, Domenica Tonelli, Beatrice Fraboni, Erika Scavetta,
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, Volume 393, 2023, 134313, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2023.134313.
Decataldo, Francesco; Bonafè, Filippo; Mariani, Federica; Serafini, Martina; Tessarolo, Marta; Gualandi, Isacco; Scavetta, Erika; Fraboni, Beatrice
PolymersOpen source preview, 2022, 14(5), 1022, DOI: 10.3390/polym14051022