A Chinese researchers have unveiled a wearable that continuously monitors cortisol levels through sweat, offering real-time insights into stress and health with high precision.
In a significant advancement for personalised healthcare, scientists from Zhejiang University have developed a groundbreaking wearable system that enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone. The system integrates advanced materials and computational design to create a compact, skin-friendly device capable of real-time cortisol tracking via sweat.
The wearable, known as the Computationally-assisted Wearable System for Continuous Cortisol Monitoring (CWSCCM), merges several innovative components: molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for hormone detection, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) for signal amplification, and iontophoretic sweat stimulation for fluid collection. Together, these components allow the device to collect sweat, analyze cortisol concentrations, and wirelessly transmit data to a mobile app.
Current gold-standard cortisol tests, such as LC-MS/MS and immunoassays, require blood samples and complex lab procedures, making them impractical for daily monitoring. The CWSCCM overcomes this by offering a wearable alternative that’s both accurate and easy to use. Using density functional theory, the team used a computational design process to identify pyrrole as the optimal MIP monomer, ensuring strong cortisol binding and electrical reusability.
The system’s OECT design—with a channel width-to-length ratio of 40—achieved up to 85-fold signal amplification while maintaining low power usage and scalable fabrication through screen-printing. The sensor consistently demonstrated high sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy in tests using sweat, saliva, and artificial fluids, closely matching ELISA results.
Crucially, the device was validated in real-world conditions. It tracked cortisol fluctuations throughout the day and responded to acute changes post-exercise in human volunteers. The full system includes a soft, 3D-printed enclosure that protects sensitive electronics from moisture, ensuring durability and wearability.
This innovation lays the groundwork for future closed-loop health monitoring systems, with potential applications in mental health tracking, chronic disease management, and personalized medicine. The fusion of computational chemistry and flexible bioelectronics in the CWSCCM marks a promising step toward smarter, more responsive healthcare technologies.
Journal Reference: Liu, Y., et al. (2025) Computationally-assisted wearable system for continuous cortisol monitoring. Science Bulletin. doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.03.060
