Silk Fabric Functionalized\nby Nanosilver Enabling\nthe Wearable Sensing for Biomechanics and Biomolecules

Integrating biomechanical and biomolecular sensing mechanisms\ninto\nwearable devices is a formidable challenge and key to acquiring personalized\nhealth management. To address this, we have developed an innovative\nmultifunctional sensor enabled by plasma functionalized silk fabric,\nwhich possesses multimodal sensing capabilities for biomechanics and\nbiomolecules. A seed-mediated <i>in situ</i> growth method\nwas employed to coat silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto silk fibers,\nresulting in silk fibers functionalized with AgNPs (SFs@Ag) that exhibit\nboth piezoresistive response and localized surface plasmon resonance\neffects. The SFs@Ag membrane enables accurate detection of mechanical\npressure and specific biomolecules during wearable sensing, offering\na versatile solution for comprehensive personalized health monitoring.\nAdditionally, a machine learning algorithm has been established to\nspecifically recognize muscle strain signals, potentially extending\nto the diagnosis and monitoring of neuromuscular disorders such as\namyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Unlike electromyography, which\ndetects large muscles in clinical medicine, sensing data for tiny\nmuscles enhance our understanding of muscle coordination using the\nSFs@Ag sensor. This detection model provides feasibility for the early\ndetection and prevention of neuromuscular diseases. Beyond muscle\nstress and strain sensing, biomolecular detection is a critical addition\nto achieving effective health management. In this study, we developed\nhighly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection\nfor wearable health monitoring. Finite-difference time-domain numerical\nsimulations ware utilized to analyze the efficacy of the SFs@Ag sensor\nfor wearable SERS sensing of biomolecules. Based on the specific SERS\nspectra, automatic extraction of signals of sweat molecules was also\nachieved. In summary, the SFs@Ag sensor bridges the gap between biomechanical\nand biomolecular sensing in wearable applications, providing significant\nvalue for personalized health management.