A novel flexible non-enzymatic composite-metal glucose detection sensor in sweat based on platinum in situ plating of liquid metal

Sweat, a readily accessible bodily fluid, is an ideal medium for non-invasive detection and offers valuable physiological parameters for clinical diagnostics and health monitoring. Monitoring glucose levels in sweat is particularly significant for the diagnosis and management of diabetes, as well as for tracking the health status of diabetic patients and enabling closed-loop treatment strategies. However, challenges arise due to the presence of numerous interfering ions that complicate glucose monitoring in sweat. Additionally, the low concentration of glucose in sweat requires the use of traditional glucose sensors with immobilized enzymes to improve specificity and sensitivity, potentially leading to increased sensor costs. This study presents a novel approach of platinum-plating the surface of liquid metal to create a unique composite metal surface for a sensing electrode to solve these problems. The non-enzymatic glucose composite metal sensor, developed using in-situ platinum plating technology on liquid metal, enables specific recognition of glucose in sweat. This low-cost and flexible manufacturing process for sweat sensors does not require a complex production environment, thus opening up the possibility of inexpensive wearable personalized sweat monitoring. © 2025