Published in 2016, this collaborative research was conducted by the Stretchable Device Laboratory at Simon Fraser University in partnership with NTS Research & Inc. (Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada). Supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the project focused on developing a flexible wearable biosensor capable of continuously monitoring lactate levels through human sweat.
Lactate is an important metabolic biomarker generated during cellular energy metabolism. Under normal physiological conditions, lactate production increases during intense physical activity as glycolysis accelerates to meet energy demands. Beyond exercise physiology, altered lactate metabolism has also attracted significant attention in disease research, particularly in cancer biology, where many tumor cells preferentially convert glucose into lactate through enhanced glycolysis, a phenomenon commonly known as the Warburg Effect.
To enable continuous metabolic monitoring without repeated blood sampling, the researchers developed a flexible electrochemical biosensor incorporating silver nanoparticle electrodes, lactate oxidase, and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The wearable platform was designed to non-invasively measure lactate in sweat while wirelessly transmitting real-time measurement data.
- Collaborative research conducted by Simon Fraser University and NTS Research & Inc., Canada.
- Developed a flexible wearable electrochemical biosensor for continuous sweat lactate monitoring.
- Utilized silver nanoparticle electrodes with immobilized lactate oxidase for sensitive lactate detection.
- Demonstrated quantitative detection of physiological sweat lactate concentrations ranging from 1–25 mM.
- Integrated Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for real-time wireless data transmission.
Continuous monitoring of biochemical markers has become an increasingly important area of wearable healthcare technology. Unlike conventional blood testing, sweat-based sensing offers a non-invasive approach for tracking physiological changes in real time.
This research demonstrates the feasibility of combining flexible electronics, enzymatic biosensing, and wireless communication into a wearable platform, providing a foundation for future applications in personalized health monitoring, sports science, and biomedical research.
Access the complete peer-reviewed publication describing the development of a wearable silver nanoparticle-based electrochemical biosensor for continuous sweat lactate monitoring, including sensor fabrication, analytical performance, mechanical durability, and wireless NFC communication.
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