POS8-1446
An Integrated Colorimetric and Strain-Sensing Hydrogel Platform for Multimodal Health Monitoring
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Jinkee HONG
Ki Su KIM
Presenter(s)
Kim won woo (chungnam national university)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Recently, hydrogel-based strain sensors have gained significant attention as a key technology for next-generation wearable healthcare monitoring systems. However, conventional strain sensors have primarily been limited to detecting physical motion, making it difficult to comprehensively collect chemical and environmental information from the human body and its surroundings. In this study, we developed a novel design and fabrication strategy for a multifunctional hydrogel-based healthcare sensor capable of simultaneously detecting physical, chemical, and environmental signals on a single platform. Polyacrylamide (PAAm)-alginate double-network hydrogels embedded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared to achieve enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The resulting conductive hydrogel functioned as a sensitive strain sensor capable of detecting subtle tensile and compressive deformations caused by human motion. Furthermore, a unique compartmentalized structure was designed to incorporate stimulus-responsive hydrogels containing specific indicators. These independently operating colorimetric sensing regions enabled the detection of selected biomarkers and external environmental factors, thereby providing integrated, real-time healthcare information. As a result, the multifunctional hydrogel platform integrated physical, chemical and environmental sensing capabilities within a single device while minimizing functional interference and signal crosstalk among the individual sensing components. This approach provides a versatile framework for comprehensive health monitoring during exercise and may contribute to the development of next-generation personalized wearable diagnostic devices and smart healthcare monitoring systems.
