Green Strategies to Printed Sensors for Healthcare Applications

Abstract

Printed sensors have been explored for more than two decades and have now gained significant interest in real-world applications due to low cost, simple and scalable fabrication processes. These sensors must satisfy the requirement of long-term usage as wearable devices, especially for health monitoring and rehabilitation purposes. However, when such devices are continuously worn on the body or implanted within the body, they may cause unexpected risk to the patient’s health. To avoid potential health risks, transition to ‘green’ strategies has already begun in the research, design and manufacturing of these sensors. This review is dedicated to offering a snapshot of current realization and future prospects of printed sensors through green strategies. The utilization of eco-friendly and cost-effective materials for sensor components and the adoption of various printing methods are summarized. The reusability and multi-detection capability of printed sensors that are within the scope of green analytical chemistry are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Printed sensors
• green
• conductive ink
• sensor materials
• health monitoring

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank University Sains Malaysia for the USM fellowship scheme granted to the first author. This work was supported by University Sains Malaysia under Research University Grant (RUI) (Grant no: 8014044).

Notes on contributors

Siti Fatimah Kamarudin

S. F. Kamarudin is currently a PhD student at School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia under supervision of Prof Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar. She received her Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical from MARA University of Technology Malaysia in 2013. She completed her Master of Science in Materials Engineering from Universiti Malaysia Perlis in 2017. Her current research interests include conductive ink, flexible sensor fabrication and application.

Mariatti Mustapha

M. Mariatti is a Professor in School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is also holding a position as Deputy Dean of Research Innovation & Industrial-Community Engagement. She completed her PhD in Polymer Composite from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2002. Her multidisciplinary research includes nanocomposites for electronic applications, conductive ink, Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC) and polymer coated ceramic scaffold.

Jang-Kyo Kim

Jang Kyo Kim is a Chair Professor at Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He is also working as Director at Finetex-HKUST R&D Center and Advanced Engineering Materials Facilities. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Sydney in 1991. He was an ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow (1992-1993), then started his faculty career at Australian National University (1993-1994) before joining HKUST. His current research interest ranging from advanced materials and technology.