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A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Seung-Kyun Kang from Seoul National University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering has unveiled a revolutionary strain sensor with record-breaking sensitivity, offering the potential for real-time stroke diagnosis. This advanced technology, developed in collaboration with researchers from Dankook University, Ajou University, and Purdue University, is a major leap forward in the field of precision biomedical engineering.
The study, published online on December 20 in Science Advances, introduces a hypersensitive, flexible, and stretchable sensor that combines microcracks with meta-structures in a novel approach. This innovation enables the continuous monitoring of blood flow, opening up new possibilities for early diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke.
Overcoming Limitations of Previous Sensors
Strain sensors, which detect biomechanical signals or deformation of objects by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of conductive materials, have traditionally been limited by their sensitivity. Previous devices struggled to detect infinitesimal strains below 10−3, making them ineffective for early detection of life-threatening conditions like brain hemorrhage or ischemia. Additionally, these limitations posed challenges for assessing structural reliability and preventing catastrophic failures in critical infrastructure.
Prof. Kang’s team overcame these hurdles by introducing a meta-structure with a negative Poisson’s ratio, achieving an extraordinary 100 times greater sensitivity compared to existing sensors. The new sensor can detect strains as small as 10−5, a level that corresponds to a change in length as small as a single atom on the surface of a human hair. This level of sensitivity is essential for monitoring the minute deformations that precede serious medical conditions.
Applications in Medical Monitoring and Disease Diagnosis
The new strain sensor has shown remarkable potential for monitoring biological environments. The team successfully attached the sensor to the surface of cerebral blood vessels, enabling real-time monitoring of blood flow and blood pressure changes. This breakthrough holds promise for the early diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases, such as cerebral hemorrhage and ischemia, by detecting the minute strains that occur before these conditions become life-threatening.
In addition to its applications in stroke monitoring, the sensor also demonstrated its ability to track microbial growth, such as the deformation caused by mold hyphae growing on bread, with strains as small as 10−5. This versatility highlights the wide-ranging applications of the technology, including in biological, environmental, and industrial settings.
Biodegradable and Safe for Use in the Human Body
Another key advantage of the newly developed sensor is its use of biodegradable materials. The sensor naturally decomposes in the body without leaving harmful residues, ensuring patient safety without the need for additional surgeries or the risk of side effects.
The team emphasized that their innovation goes beyond merely improving sensor performance. “We are presenting a groundbreaking approach that overcomes the fundamental limitations of previous technologies,” they stated. “This research has the potential to transform not only biomedical engineering but also fields such as robotics, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.”
Future Prospects
The potential applications of this hypersensitive strain sensor are vast, with implications for early disease detection, precision medicine, and beyond. The research team’s work marks a significant step toward the development of more effective, non-invasive monitoring tools that could save countless lives in the future.
For more information, refer to the full study: Hypersensitive Meta-Crack Strain Sensor for Real-Time Biomedical Monitoring in Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads9258.
About Science Advances
Science Advances is a leading scientific journal that publishes cutting-edge research across a range of disciplines, including biomedical engineering, materials science, and environmental monitoring.
