Self-Powered Living Sensor Display Implanted On Skin For Long-Term Biomarker Monitoring

Smart watches that measure physical parameters of the body are commercially available. Some trials apply energy harvesters for butteryless operation. Wearable sensors for biophysical parameters, however, are difficult to combine with self-power supplies, although the development of non-invasive methods for continuous biomarker monitoring is pivotal for advancing healthcare diagnostics [1, 2]. This study introduces a novel, self-powered “Living Sensor Display” implanted on the skin, utilizing keratinocyte stem cells (KSCs) genetically engineered to monitor and report the presence of specific biomarkers such as TNF-$\alpha$ (Fig. 1). Leveraging the natural metabolic processes of these cells, the device operates without external power, marking a significant advancement in wearable health technology.