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21 January 2018
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REVIEW

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

Flexible Electrochemical Biosensors for Healthcare Monitoring
Jinho Yoon,†ab Hyeon-Yeol Cho,†c Minkyu Shin,a Hye Kyu Choi,a Taek Lee,d and Jeong-Woo Choi*a
Received 00th January 20xx, As the interest in wearable devices has increased recently, increasing biosensor flexibility has begun to attract
Accepted 00th January 20xx
considerable attention. Among the various types of biosensors, electrochemical biosensors are uniquely suited
DOI: 10.1039/x0xx00000x for the development of such flexible biosensors due to their many advantages, including their fast response,
inherent miniaturization, convenient operation, and portability. Therefore, many studies on flexible
electrochemical biosensors have been conducted in recent years to achieve non-invasive and real-time
monitoring of body fluids such as tears, sweat, and saliva. To achieve this, various substrates, novel
nanomaterials, and detection techniques have been utilized to develop conductive flexible platforms that can
be applied to create flexible electrochemical biosensors. In this review, we discussed recently reported flexible
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electrochemical biosensors and divided them into specific categories including materials for flexible substrate,
fabrication techniques for flexible biosensor development, and recently developed flexible electrochemical
biosensors to externally monitor target molecules, thereby providing a means to noninvasively examine cells
and body fluid samples. In conclusion, this review will discuss the materials, methods, recent studies, and
perspectives on flexible electrochemical biosensors for healthcare monitoring and wearable biosensing
systems.

1. Introduction antibodies is analyzed through various approaches such as

Since the development of smartphones, wearable devices have electrochemical, colorimetric, fluorescent, and plasmonic
received considerable attention as they can be utilized for multiple techniques.10-13 From a biosensor standpoint, early and precise
applications by connecting and communicating with a smartphone in detection of target molecules is an important goal, which can be
real-time.1 Particularly, communication between wearable devices achieved and strengthened through the introduction of a wearable
and smartphones enables the monitoring and analysis of signals device that can be used for personalized diagnosis and patient-
obtained from our body and many personalized wearable devices for specific analyses.14 Based on this perspective, granting flexibility to
sports and medical applications have been developed.2 To improve biosensors has attracted much attention because it is the basic
the detection performance and suitability of wearable devices, requirement for wearable biosensor development. However, some
flexibility is a key factor for the development of each component, limitations may be encountered depending on biosensor types. For
including flexible displays and batteries that can be used in wearable example, although most analysis techniques have advantages for
devices.3,4,5 biosensor development, biosensors based on surface-enhanced
Raman spectroscopy (SERS) have the restriction of not being
Among the many wearable device research fields, biosensor portable, which is an essential requirement for wearable devices.
applications have great potential due to the wide possibility for Moreover, colorimetric biosensors have sensitivity limitations, which
personalized diagnosis and patient-specific analysis6. Biosensors are makes them unsuitable to identify extremely small amounts of
analytical devices that can detect target molecules such as small molecules through the naked eye without specialized analysis
molecules, chemicals, or harmful biomolecules.7-9 To detect these techniques.15-17 Due to these limitations, selecting suitable
target molecules, the interaction or specific binding between target techniques for the development and operation of flexible biosensors
molecules and sensing probes such as enzymes, nucleic acids, or is required in order for these technologies to be applied to wearable
biosensors in the future.
a. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, Among the various types of biosensors, electrochemical biosensors
04107, Republic of Korea
b. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of are uniquely suited to meet all the requirements for flexible
New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. biosensor development. An electrochemical biosensor detects
c. Department of Bio & Fermentation Convergence Technology, Kookmin University,
electrical or electrochemical signals derived from the reaction
Seoul, 02707, Republic of Korea
d. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, 01899, between target molecules and sensing probes.18-21 An advantage of
Republic of Korea electrochemical biosensors is that various electrochemical analysis
† Equally contributed.
Electronic Supplementary Information (ESI) available: [details of any supplementary
techniques can be utilized depending on the environment and target
information available should be included here]. See DOI: 10.1039/x0xx00000x molecules such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse

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Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

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Fig. 1 Development of flexible electrochemical biosensors for healthcare monitoring.

voltammetry (DPV), amperometric techniques, and electrochemical In this review, we will discuss flexible electrochemical biosensors
impedance spectroscopy (EIS).22,23 Furthermore, these sensors also along with a selective overview of recent studies. Especially, this
feature a fast response, high sensitivity, inherent miniaturization, review will address the materials used for the development of
convenient operation, and portability, all of which makes them flexible substrates, techniques for the development of flexible
especially suitable for the development of flexible biosensors.24-28 electrochemical biosensors, and recently developed flexible
However, to develop flexible electrochemical biosensors, electrochemical biosensors. Moreover, recently reported flexible
conductivity should be considered in addition to flexibility. electrochemical biosensors will be classified and discussed
Moreover, studies on flexible electrochemical biosensors could begin depending on the monitored environments including external
with the fabrication of the flexible conductive substrates themselves. monitoring, cells, and samples obtained through the attachment of
To achieve this, various materials and methods such as polymer biosensors directly onto the body.
substrates coupled with novel nanomaterials, highly conductive
polymers, or printing techniques have been proposed to fabricate
flexible conductive substrates or develop electrochemical analysis 2. Materials for Flexible Substrate Design
systems on flexible substrates.29-32 Based on these efforts, several To date, various substrate materials such as gold, silicon, glass, or
flexible electrochemical biosensors have been recently studied. indium tin oxide (ITO) have been used as biosensor templates.

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However, flexible substrates are essential components for the 2.2 Conductive Polymers View Article Online
development of flexible biosensors. Polymer materials have been DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K
To compensate for the nonconductive qualities of general polymer
recognized among the most suitable candidates for flexible substrate materials, conductive polymers have become the focus of increasing
development and have been utilized to develop flexible biosensors. attention as an alternative solution for the development of flexible
Additionally, both conductivity and flexibility are important factors conductive substrates.44,45 Conductive polymers are organic

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

to consider when developing electrochemical biosensor substrates. polymers that contain aromatic rings or double bonds as their main
Notably, recent studies have focused on granting conductivity to chains,46 and most of them can be synthesized by chemical synthesis
flexible substrates to increase electrochemical biosensor sensitivity. processes or electro-copolymerization.47 These polymers possess
To achieve this, various novel materials have been introduced to metallic conductivity or semiconducting properties that can be
nonconductive polymer substrates or utilized as flexible conductive utilized to develop flexible electronics. For example, efficient flexible
substrates on their own. In this chapter, we will discuss the various solar cells were developed using the conductive polymer poly(3,4-
materials used for flexible substrates by classifying them into ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and
polymers, conductive polymers, conductive nanomaterials, and various polypyrrole (PPy)-based electrodes have been reported for
other materials (e.g., biomaterials). energy storage applications.48-50
In the biosensor field, conductive polymers have specific advantages
2.1 Polymers for the development of electrochemical biosensors.51 Conductive
A polymer is a large-sized macromolecule composed of numerous polymers provide an effective matrix for immobilization or
repeating subunits. Although there is a difference in the degree of entrapment of biomolecules, as well as a fast electron transfer
mediator. Additionally, conductive polymers provide both
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flexibility depending on the length of the branches, polymer

materials generally have flexible characteristics.33,34 This property is conductivity and limited flexibility. Despite their mechanical
a clear advantage of polymer materials, which clearly distinguishes limitations (e.g., brittleness) compared to normal polymer materials,
them from the rigid substrates that were formerly widely used. conductive polymers possess flexibility compared to rigid substrates.
Moreover, most polymer materials are light-weight and inexpensive, Therefore, many conductive polymer-based flexible electrochemical
both of which are strongly demanded characteristics in the industry. biosensors have been proposed. PEDOT:PSS, one of the most widely
Therefore, polymer materials have been massively implemented in used conductive polymers, was used as an electron transfer mediator
the field of flexible electronics.35,36 In this way, the application of for flexible fibroin support to develop a flexible electrochemical
polymer materials as substrates has resulted in the development of dopamine biosensor (Figure 2b).52 Furthermore, an
flexible polymer transistors and flexible diodes.37,38 electroconductive film composed of a polyvinylaniline (PVAN) and
polyaniline (PANI) bilayer was constructed to develop a flexible
Based on these advantages, polymer materials have been actively electrochemical biosensor for the detection of dopamine released
studied to be applied to biosensors recently. Many readily available from dopaminergic neurons.53
and widely used polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
and polyimide (PI) are being actively studied as substrates for flexible Nonetheless, the use of conductive polymers alone has limitations
biosensor fabrication. Optical glucose biosensors have been for the development of highly sensitive flexible electrochemical
developed using phenylboronic acid functionalized-hydrogels biosensors because there is a limit to their biosensing capacities.
capable of sensing glucose through their affinity to diol-containing Therefore, to improve the properties of conductive polymers, the
molecules (e.g., cis-diols) in glucose molecules.39 Therefore, upon introduction of other materials as the supporting materials to the
glucose addition, a glucose-induced volumetric change occurs in the conductive polymers is now under study. For instance, the iron oxide
hydrogel system and is easily detected via optical approaches. (Fe2O3) or nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were used as the
Moreover, flexible enzymatic biosensors for lactate detection have supporting materials to be hybridized with conductive polymers to
been developed using polycarbonate (PC) as substrate (Figure 2a).40 enhance the flexible electrochemical biosensor performance.54,55
Furthermore, a flexible SERS sensor was developed using gold These materials have advantages for combining with conductive
nanostar-embedded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film as a highly polymers because of easy for synthesis and surface modification, and
sensitive flexible substrate.41 commercialization hugely. Still, countless studies are undergoing to
compensate for the mechanical defects of conductive polymers and
As mentioned above, various polymer materials have been utilized in improve the properties of the conductive polymers for flexible
addition to the polymer materials mentioned here for the electrochemical biosensor applications.
development of flexible biosensors based on diverse techniques
including SERS and fluorescence.42,43 However, most polymer
materials have nonconductive properties that hinder the 2.3 Conductive Nanomaterials
development of flexible electrochemical biosensors by only using Even though their nonconductivity limits the development of flexible
polymer materials as substrates. To solve this limitation, synthesis of electrochemical biosensors, polymer materials are still the best
conductive polymers or the addition of novel conductive materials candidates for the development of flexible substrates. Therefore,
on the polymer materials, which will be covered later, have been conductive polymers or combined materials composed of conductive
studied to be applied to flexible electrochemical biosensors. polymers with various conductive nanomaterials have been studied
to grant the high conductivity to the polymer materials.56,57

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Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

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Fig. 2 (a) Schematic diagram and images of a flexible enzymatic lactate biosensor developed on a flexible PC substrate from ref. 40. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights
reserved, (b) schematic diagram of the fabrication process of a PEDOT:PSS conductive micropattern on a flexible fibroin support, and image of fabricated flexible
micropattern from ref. 52. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved, (c) schematic diagram of the fabrication process of a flexible enzymatic glucose
biosensor prepared by using a hybrid film composed of vertically aligned CNT on a PET substrate, and the photograph of the CNT grown on the flexible substrate
from ref. 69. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, (d) the overall structure and SEM image of the core‐shell structure of conductive nylon fiber, and images of
the conductive nylon fiber device with different bending directions from ref. 88. © 2018 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Among the various conductive nanomaterials, the conductive recently jointly implemented in conductive polymers.67,68 In addition,
nanoparticles including the most widely known gold nanoparticles Hybrid films composed of carbon-based nanomaterials and
(GNP) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) have been extensively studied nonconductive polymer materials including vertically aligned CNT on
to determine their effectiveness in combination with conductive PET (Figure 2c) 69 and CNT networks embedded in PDMS70 have been
polymers for the development of flexible electrochemical biosensors reportedly used for the development of flexible electrochemical
by compensating the limitation of conductive polymers.58,59 In biosensors.
addition to nanoparticles, carbon-based nanomaterials such as Furthermore, novel conductive nanomaterials have been extensively
graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) have the huge potential for discovered and studied recently, particularly to improve their
developing the flexible substrates with the excellent conductivity for intrinsic characteristics beyond those of carbon-based
electrochemical biosensors.60,61 Carbon-based nanomaterials have nanomaterials. Among them, transition metal dichalcogenides
received attention in biological fields because of their exceptional (TMD) nanomaterials are of interest due to their exceptional
properties including biocompatibility and conductivity.62-64 These properties including their direct bandgap and high conductance,
advantages are also applicable for the development of biosensors, which make them suitable for diverse applications in biosensors and
and therefore various types of carbon-based nanomaterials have bioelectronics.71,72 Similarly, TMD nanomaterials have been recently
been used as the core components for developing flexible and combined with nonconductive polymer materials to improve the
conductive substrates. For instance, reduced graphene oxide (GO) flexible substrate conductance. Choi et al. reported flexible
was electrodeposited on PEDOT:PSS to create a flexible electrochemical biosensors based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)
electrochemical microelectrode,65 and CNT was coated with PEDOT nanoparticles modified on PI and PET for the detection of glucose
to develop a superior conductive and flexible layer for biosensor and gp120 protein (i.e., an HIV-1 surface protein).73,74 Moreover,
application.66 Furthermore, to maximize the benefits of conductive other types of excellent TMD nanomaterials have been combined
polymers, nanoparticles and carbon-based nanomaterials have been

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with polymer materials to develop superior flexible substrates such introduction of two- or three-electrode systems directly View on flexible
Article Online
as tin diselenide (SnSe2)-modified cellulose films and tungsten substrates would facilitate the efficient operation of electrochemical
DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K
diselenide (WSe2)-modified PI films.75,76 sensing systems to be applied for wearable biosensing systems. To
Additionally, studies on the development of flexible and conductive achieve these goals, several delicate techniques have been utilized
substrates using exclusively nanomaterials have been recently to create electrochemical biosensing systems, including lithography

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

conducted. To make flexible substrates composed exclusively of and printing tools. In this chapter, we will comprehensively discuss
conductive nanomaterials, one or more than two different various techniques used for the development of electrochemical
nanomaterials are combined and cross-linked to form networks to biosensing systems on flexible electrodes, from simple and easy
create a template.77,78 For example, flexible and conductive hybrid sputtering techniques to three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques.
films composed of CNT and graphene nanoplatelets were prepared
by sonication through a vacuum filtration process.79 The prepared 3.1 Sputtering
hybrid film without any polymeric substrates exhibited excellent
conductivity and flexible characteristics. As discussed here, Although various factors are required for the operation of
conductive nanomaterials show a huge potential for the electrochemical biosensors, conferring conductivity is the most
development of flexible substrates such as being able to be important optimization for the implementation of flexible
combined with polymers or act as flexible electrodes by themselves. electrochemical biosensors. Among the various methods used to
impart conductivity, the sputtering of conductive metals on
nonconductive flexible substrates can provide a simple, easy, and
2.4 Other Materials effective method to establish an electrochemical biosensor system.
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Unlike the flexible substrates seen so far, fewer studies on the The sputtering technique is based on physical phenomena for
fabrication of novel flexible substrates using biomaterials or organic conductive layer formation. Specifically, conductive metal layers can
materials have been conducted. Naturally synthesized biomaterials be uniformly formed on nonconductive substrates by using extracted
such as silk fibroin and cellulose have tremendous potential as metal elements from the surface of metal targets through a process
flexible substrates for flexible electrochemical biosensors due to of plasma or gas energetic particle bombarding onto the substrate
their unique properties including biocompatibility and mechanical surface.89,90 This technique has been widely applied to form a thin
characteristics.80 Therefore, various novel biomaterial-based flexible metallic conductive layer in various fields, including the development
substrates have been proposed including engineered protein-based of battery electrodes and biosensors.91-93 In addition to these
elastin-like substrates and silk fibroin hybridized with Kevlar (i.e., a applications, the sputtering technique has also been introduced to
synthetic polymer) for the creation of flexible develop efficient electrochemical biosensors with high conductivity
nanobiocomposites.81,82 Among the various biomaterials that could via the deposition of novel metals on the electrode.94,95
be potentially used as flexible substrates, bacterial cellulose, and Several studies have employed the sputtering technique to develop
nanofibrous biomaterials have been extensively studied due to their flexible electrochemical biosensors due to its simple implementation
advantages, including excellent mechanical properties and for the creation of conductive layers compared to other techniques.
production possibilities in various forms.83 Similarly, in situ self- To develop a highly sensitive and flexible electrochemical biosensor,
polymerized dopamine (polydopamine) on bacterial cellulose was indium oxide (In2O3) was reportedly sputter-deposited on a PET
proposed as a flexible conductive bioelectrode to monitor substrate to be utilized for glucose level monitoring in body fluids
electrophysiological signals from the body.84 Additionally, GNP- and (Figure 3a) 96. Another study reported the formation of a nickel oxide
CNT- decorated conductive bacterial cellulose films were reported (NiO) film on a flexible PET substrate via the sputtering technique to
for electrochemical glucose detection.85 Moreover, DNA-based develop a flexible lactate biosensor measured with a potentiometric
hydrogels also have suitable characteristics for the development of system.97 Moreover, flexible electrochemical biosensors for the
flexible substrates by itself.86 In addition to biomaterials, fibers have detection of cortisol in sweat have been constructed by sputter-
also been used as flexible substrates, including synthetic fibers such depositing zinc oxide (ZnO) on a polyamide substrate98. Furthermore,
as nylon or natural fibers such as cotton fabric (Figure 2d).87,88 other types of biosensors for the detection of glucose based on a
vertically aligned nickel-CNT on a flexible graphite substrate were
prepared via the sputtering technique.99 Additionally, Choi et al.
3. Fabrication Techniques for Flexible performed metal sputtering on nonconductive polymer substrates
Electrochemical Biosensing Platforms and simultaneously introduced novel TMD nanomaterials (i.e., MoS2
In the previous chapter, we discussed the various materials used to nanoparticles). The authors created a sandwich structure composed
create flexible electrodes. However, the fabrication of flexible of sputtered gold layers and a spin-coated MoS2 layer located
substrates is just the beginning step in the demonstration of flexible between the sputtered gold layers to enhance the electron transfer
electrochemical biosensing systems. To develop flexible reaction to achieve high biosensor sensitivity to detect glucose and
electrochemical biosensors, additional processes are required to HIV-1 surface protein.73,74 Nonetheless, the sputtering technique has
achieve a highly efficient flexible electrode conductivity to enhance limitations when implemented for the introduction of two- or three-
biosensor sensitivity and the construction of electrode systems electrode systems composed of counter or reference electrodes on
without interference between each of the introduced electrodes for flexible and conductive electrodes. This is due to its non-specific (i.e.,
the investigation of electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, the random) deposition properties on the whole area of the deposited

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Fig. 3 (a) Schematic image of the sputter-deposition of In2O3 on the PET, and the optical images of prepared flexible electrochemical glucose biosensor from ref. 96. Copyright ©
2018, American Chemical Society, (b) Schematic image of a flexible biosensor for monitoring the multiple targets containing temperature, pH, and ions developed via
photolithography, and its real-time monitoring results for detection of multiple targets from ref. 104. Copyright © 2016 American Chemical Society, (c) fabrication of a flexible glove
biosensor composed of a three-electrode system via printing technology from ref. 122. Copyright © 2017 American Chemical Society, further permissions related to the material
excerpted should be directed to the ACS.

substrate. Therefore, in order to develop flexible electrochemical system (i.e., working-, counter-, and reference- electrodes) was fully
biosensors to be ultimately applied for wearable biosensors, other integrated on a PI substrate via the photolithography process.103
novel techniques for direct introduction of electrode systems on Moreover, a flexible multiple-target sensing platform was reported
flexible substrates are needed even if they are not as simple and to simultaneously detect ions, temperature, and pH changes with an
convenient as the sputtering technique. electrochemical system integrated on a flexible substrate via the
photolithography technique (Figure 3b).104

3.2 Lithography In addition to the photolithography technique, various lithography

techniques including electron-beam lithography, soft lithography, or
To establish an electrochemical system directly on flexible substrates electrochemical lithography are also widely used for the
or to develop multiple-target monitoring systems on a miniaturized development of flexible electrochemical biosensors due to their
chip without interference between each target monitoring system, unique advantages.105,106 For instance, flexible silver nanowire films
there is a need for finer techniques capable of exquisitely granting prepared by soft lithography were proposed for the detection of
conductivity on flexible substrates beyond the non-specific hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).107,108 Similar to the aforementioned
deposition that results from sputtering. Such implementations studies, lithography techniques have been used to develop elaborate
include the arrangement of sophisticated conductive flexible electrochemical biosensors with fully integrated
nanoelectrodes.100 The lithography technique, which has been electrochemical systems or to develop biosensors capable of
widely used for silicon-based electronic devices, is a technique that simultaneously detecting multiple targets.
satisfies the above-mentioned requirements.101
Although the highly-accurate lithography technique is one of the
Among the various current lithography techniques, photolithography most effective tools for the development of flexible electrochemical
uses a photo-sensitive photoresistor that can be patterned by laser biosensors to detect multiple targets or to make a fully integrated
exposure through the specific blocking of a predesigned photomask circuit system, the operation of delicate lithography techniques has
to make a pattern on the substrate. Notably, this technique can be some limitations such as complicated processes, expensive
applied for the fabrication of delicate conductive electrodes on equipment, and high costs. Therefore, there is a need for relatively
flexible substrates.102 For example, micropatterned photo-sensitive inexpensive, simpler, and more accessible techniques that can be
conductive polymer electrodes were formed on a flexible substrate used widely for the development of flexible electrochemical
for the electrochemical detection of glucose, and patterned biosensors. Therefore, several studies including the utilization of
conductive polymer electrodes retained their structure and function recent lithography techniques such as the salt impregnated inkjet
after bending.30 In addition to this research, a flexible maskless lithography (SIIML), and etching inkjet maskless lithography
electrochemical interleukin-10 biosensor based on a three-electrode (E-IML) are being conducted to compensate for the limitations of

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lithographic techniques and to enhance its performance, thereby not used as much as the techniques mentioned above.
View Article Online
further enabling the development of highly efficient flexible Electrodeposition is a widely used technique that is often used to
DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K
electrochemical biosensors. 109,110 form highly conductive layers on the surface of conductive or
semiconductive substrates by using metal ion solutions and simple
electrochemical techniques. Using this approach, platinum

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

3.3 Printing
nanoparticles were electrodeposited on a flexible graphene-
Recently, printing has received increasing attention in various fields modified PI substrate for the development of an ultrasensitive
because it can provide a useful method to effectively fabricate glucose biosensor.126 Additionally, iridium oxide (IrOx) was also
delicate structures on any substrate through the spraying of any electrodeposited on electropolymerized PPy film to develop a
material that can exist in solution. Additionally, printing has the
flexible electrochemical multiparameter sensing platform.127
advantage of being accessible enough to be widely implemented. As
Moreover, electrospinning has also been used to form patterned
the spraying sophistication and velocity of printing develop, various
polymer membranes on selected substrates.128 By coupling this tool
printing techniques have begun to be applied in the fields of biology
with spray‐based layer-by-layer deposition techniques, polysulfone
and medicine, particularly in the biosensor field.111,112 Given the
fiber mats were developed to serve as flexible substrates, and a CNT-
possibility for accurate printing of biomolecules and novel
nanomaterials on substrates to form biocompatible and functional based conductive layer was formed on these flexible mats for
layers to develop miniaturized biosensors, many biosensors have biosensor development.129 As another example, nitrogen-doped
been created using printing technology.113,114 For instance, printed carbon fibers were developed to form a free-standing flexible and
microfluidic-based biosensing systems have been developed through conductive substrate for glucose monitoring.130 To develop this
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the formation of polymer layers on substrates using printing (e.g., platform, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were prepared using
inkjet printing).115 electrospinning and carbonized thereafter. Various other novel
Particularly, the aforementioned advantages of printing technologies techniques have been successfully implemented to date to develop
enable the precise control of conductive substrate structure for the flexible biosensors, including electrochemical/mechanical exfoliation
development of flexible electrochemical biosensors. Various and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) .131-134
biomaterials and novel conductive nanomaterials can be printed to
grant conductivity or establish electrochemical systems on flexible
substrates (e.g., paper-based substrates). In one study, SNP ink was
printed on a PET substrate using an inkjet printer to fabricate silver
4. Current Applications of Flexible
inter-digital electrodes for pathogen detection.116 In another study,
Electrochemical Biosensors
a flexible enzymatic biosensor was reportedly used for continuous By implementing the novel materials and fabrication techniques
glucose monitoring.117 In this research, platinum nanoparticles and discussed in the previous chapters, numerous flexible
reduced GO were directly and effectively micropatterned on the electrochemical biosensors have been developed and reported to
curved surface of a cylindrical polyetheretherketone (PEEK) date. The reported flexible electrochemical biosensors are divided
substrate with a rotating inkjet printer, resulting in an integrated and discussed in this chapter depending on the types of target
electrode system on the curved substrate. Moreover, printing molecules and the operating environment of the biosensors. More
provides an efficient method to develop disposable paper-based specifically, the studies are divided into two categories: 1) flexible
biosensors which are suitable for point-of-care testing (POCT); this electrochemical biosensors for in vitro molecule monitoring and 2)
has recently attracted growing attention in biosensor field.118-120 In body-attached biosensors for direct monitoring.
addition to paper-based biosensors, conductive three-electrode
systems composed of working, counter, and reference electrodes 4.1 Flexible Electrochemical Biosensors for In Vitro Monitoring of
have been developed on flexible gloves for the development of Environmental Molecules
wearable lab-on-a-glove systems (Figure 3c).121,122 Also, 3D printing
The ultimate goal of flexible electrochemical biosensor research is to
technology is being actively studied recently and has been
be applied for the development of wearable biosensors. Once the
recognized as a novel next-generation printing technique. 3D
wearable biosensors are applied to directly monitor target molecules
printing has great potential in the field of biology for several
applications including tissue engineering due to its unique capacity on the body, the noise signals derived from the surroundings and
to create specific three-dimensional biological structures such as other undesired molecules should be removed, and the selective
artificial tissues or organs.123 These advantages of 3D printing could detection of target molecules should be achieved through
now also be utilized in the development of flexible electrochemical compensation by taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the
biosensors.124,125 biosensor. Therefore, current studies on flexible electrochemical
biosensors largely focus on sensitivity and selectivity maximization,
as well as retention of stability and flexibility in various physical
3.4 Other Techniques conditions. The main target molecules of flexible electrochemical
In addition to the three representative fabrication techniques biosensors are small biological molecules that can adversely affect
discussed earlier, various other efficient and creative techniques are health (e.g., glucose and lactate) and are associated with specific
used for the creation of flexible electrochemical biosensors, although diseases. So far, many externally measurable glucose biosensors

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DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

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Fig. 4 (a) Fabrication process of a glucose biosensor based on a sandwich structure composed of gold/MoS2/gold nanofilms on a PI substrate via
sputtering and spin-coating technologies and the glucose sensing performance of the proposed flexible biosensor from ref. 73. © 2019 Elsevier
B.V. All rights reserved, (b) conductive PVAN/PANI bilayer-modified flexible bacterial cellulose film for the monitoring of neurotransmitters
secreted from neural stem cells during stem cell differentiation, and fluorescence images of differentiated cells grown on flexible substrates from
ref. 53. Copyright © 2019, American Chemical Society, (c) schematic images of a self-powered electrochemical lactate biosensor composed of
two different flexible electrochemical systems (one system for energy harvesting and the other one for lactate detection), and its superb lactate
sensing performance with high selectivity from ref. 146. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, (d) schematic process of the ETC system for
glucose monitoring in the blood, and a picture of the developed wearable biosensor on the body from ref. 151. Copyright © 2017 The Authors,
some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).

have been commercialized, but there remains a need for flexible prepared flexible biosensor exhibited an excellent glucose sensing
glucose biosensors that can be used for real-time monitoring of performance (detection limit: 10 nM) with high selectivity and
glucose levels in the body to prevent diabetes mellitus. Therefore, retained its structure and function after repeated bending.
various flexible glucose biosensors have been recently reported.57,117 Moreover, carbon nanomaterial-based flexible electrochemical
To greatly enhance flexible biosensor sensitivity, Choi et al. glucose biosensors have been recently developed by taking
introduced MoS2 nanoparticles to form a sandwich structure advantage of the highly conductive properties of carbon
composed of gold/MoS2/gold nanofilms on a PI substrate.73 nanomaterials such as graphene and CNT.126,135 Additionally, flexible
Sputtering was used to easily and rapidly construct the sandwich electrochemical biosensors based on hybrid nanomaterials
structural film, which resulted in gold layers and a spin-coating MoS2 composed of platinum nanoparticles and 3D porous graphene were
layer (Figure 4a). After the formation of the sandwich film, GOx was developed to simultaneously monitor multiple targets (e.g., glucose,
modified on the film to serve as a glucose-sensing probe. The pH, and electrocardiographic signals), which can be applied to the

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creation of wearable smart devices.136 In addition to glucose development of highly sensitive wearable biosensing systems in the
View Article Online
biosensors, a flexible electrochemical lactate biosensor was also future. DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K

developed by implementing LOx immobilized on a flexible graphene

nanowall-modified copper foil with an integrated three-electrode 4.2 Flexible Electrochemical Biosensors for Target Molecule
system.137 To develop this integrated system, the CVD technique was Monitoring on the Body

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

introduced to make the graphene nanowall-modified copper foil on To date, a few flexible electrochemical biosensors capable of
the PET substrate, and printing was used to create the three- monitoring target molecules directly on the body have been
electrode system directly on the flexible substrate. The newly reported. Flexible biosensors specifically developed to be worn
developed lactate biosensor exhibited excellent stability even after directly on the body must be biocompatible and noninvasive.
bending and twisting the biosensor. Moreover, a flexible Additionally, a superior sensitivity is required to monitor target
electrochemical alcohol biosensor has been reportedly utilized in molecules in body secretions such as blood, tears, and sweat.
many situations.138 This biosensor could even distinguish between Therefore, these biosensors have been built into specific wearable
the alcohol contents of different beers with high sensitivity. structures such as gloves, mouthguards, wristbands, and adhesive
plasters that can be easily attached to the body with high sensitivity
Until now, in most studies, target molecules of flexible and biocompatibility.122, 145 In addition, due to the current limitation
electrochemical biosensors have been restricted to the glucose and of molecules available as the target molecules included in real
lactate because these molecules can be easily accessed and samples such as tears and sweat, most target materials of flexible
monitored on the body by using the wearable biosensor which is the electrochemical biosensors for monitoring the targets on the body
permanent goal of flexible electrochemical biosensors. However, to
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are restricted to the most accessible and easily measurable targets

diversify the target molecules variously, studies to develop the such as the glucose and lactate in most studies.
flexible electrochemical biosensors for in vitro monitoring the other
molecules have been conducted recently which can diversify the One research group reported a wearable and disposable glove-based
target molecules of wearable biosensors in the future. electrochemical biosensor to detect fentanyl and synthetic
opioids.122 To develop this biosensor, the authors used 3D-printed
For example, the flexible electrochemical biosensor was reported for molds to create a three-electrode system on the glove, and using
monitoring the heavy metal ions including the lead (Pb), and screen printing technology, a three-electrode system composed of a
cadmium (Cd) in the food.139 As another example, flexible reference electrode (printed Ag/AgCl ink layer), a counter electrode
electrochemical biosensor was proposed for detection of Parkinson’s (printed carbon ink layer), and a working electrode (printed carbon
disease biomarkers, the dopamine and the Parkinson's disease ink layer) was fabricated. Then, a nanomaterial composite made of
protein 7 (PARK7/DJ-1).140 In addition, the flexible electrochemical CNT, polyethyleneimine (PEI), and an ionic solution (IL, 4-(3-Butyl-1-
H2O2 biosensor was developed based on the laser scribed graphene imidazolio)-1-butanesulfonate) was printed on the working
and SNP hybrid composite by laser irradiation.141 electrode to enhance the sensitivity of the biosensor. The developed
biosensor exhibited excellent and rapid fentanyl detection
In addition to these researches for monitoring the other target
performance (detection limit: 10 μM) prepared in both powder and
molecules, flexible electrochemical biosensors can be applied to
liquid forms. Similar to this research but with the addition of a self-
monitor the states of living cells in vitro. Living cells can be affected
supplying energy system, a self-powered electrochemical lactate
by their surrounding conditions such as the microevironment and
biosensor was developed and hybridized into socks to act as a sensor
niches that influence the interaction between cells and substrate, as
directly on feet.146 To demonstrate this novel system, authors
well as secreted substances from affected cells. Therefore, flexible
developed two different flexible electrochemical systems, one of
substrates that can finely control the surface environment are
which was composed of gelatin, PDMS, and an aluminum layer on a
needed to investigate the response from living cells142. To this end,
PET substrate to harvest biochemical energy from human walking or
some studies have implemented flexible electrochemical sensing to
running when worn directly on the foot, and the other was composed
detect cell-secreted molecules such as dopamine and the tumor
of LOx, palladium-gold (PdAu) bimetallic nanoparticles, carbon
necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) cytokine143,144. Recently, a conductive
fibers, and chitosan for lactate sensing connected to an energy
PVAN/PANI bilayer-modified flexible bacterial cellulose film was
harvesting system (Figure 4c).
developed to monitor neurotransmitters secreted by neural stem
cells under differentiation grown on a flexible substrate.53 Based on A lactate biosensor composed of the two aforementioned systems
the dual functionality of this flexible biosensor for cell growth and showed a superb lactate sensing performance by taking advantage
monitoring, the differentiation of neural stem cells was of the electricity generated from body activity. This self-powered
electrochemically monitored directly on the flexible biosensor biosensing system represents a creative approach to develop
(Figure 4b). minimized wearable sensing devices capable of long-term operation,
biocompatibility, and without the need for an additional energy
As discussed above, various studies on flexible electrochemical
supply device on the system. Moreover, tattoo-type wearable
biosensors are currently being actively conducted, and these studies
biosensors can be easily attached to the body and have been
are expected to be utilized as the core technology for the

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reported to be effective for direct and real-time monitoring of bandage-shaped biosensor was developed to detectView tyrosinase, a
Article Online
important bioindicators.147,148 Among the various types of structures cancer biomarker related to melanoma, by using modified
DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01325K

that can be applied to wearable devices, bandage- or patch-shaped microneedle array sensors on the bandage.152
wearable electrochemical biosensors that can be directly and
noninvasively attached anywhere on the body are the most actively In this chapter, we discussed the many types of flexible

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

studied in recent research.149,150 Among these studies, wearable electrochemical biosensors worn on the body for direct monitoring
biosensors based on electrochemical twin channels (ETC) were of target molecules. However, many obstacles must be overcome
reported to noninvasively monitor blood glucose.151 This biosensor prior to commercialization of various flexible electrochemical
was composed of multilayers of the GOx, Prussian blue, gold, PI, and biosensors worn on the body for direct monitoring of target
poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). By using the proposed ETC molecules. For example, to diversify the target molecules beyond the
system, which could penetrate hyaluronic acid and withstand glucose and lactate, there is a need to develop more sophisticated
glucose refiltration and outward transportation, intravascular blood and noninvasive flexible electrodes capable of body penetration and
glucose could be driven out from the vessel, and transported to the achieving the high sensitivity with high signal-to-noise ratio.
surface of the skin where the biosensor was worn (Figure 4d). Based Nevertheless, because research to improve the sensitivity of in vitro
on the advantages of this ETC system, including glucose flexible electrochemical biosensors are being continuously
transportation and noninvasive sensitive monitoring, this biosensor conducted and research on wearable biosensing systems is ongoing,
provided an effective means for continuous glucose monitoring for it is predicted that excellent wearable electrochemical biosensors
noninvasive clinical applications. In addition to this research, a may be commercialized in the near future.
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Table 1 Summary of materials, fabrication techniques, and developed flexible electrochemical biosensors discussed in this review.

Materials Advantages Disadvantages Types Reference

Excellent flexibility, light-

Polymers Nonconductivity PC / PDMS / PI / PET 40 / 41 / 73 / 74
weight, inexpensive

Brittleness, limitations in their

Conductive Flexibility, conductivity, or
ability to deliver both excellent PEDOT:PSS / PPy / PANI 48 /49 /53
polymers semiconductivity
conductivity and flexibility

Confers excellent
Conductive Restricted to being used as the Metal NPs / graphene / CNT / MoS2 /
conductivity to 58 / 62 / 69 / 73 / 79
nanomaterial flexible substrate itself graphene nanoplatelet
nonconductive polymers

Fabrication
Advantages Disadvantages Ref.
techniques
Sputtering Simple, easy, and effective approach to grant conductivity Non-specific deposition 89, 93, 96
Highly-specific patterning, suitable for biosensor High cost, complex processes, requires
Lithography 104, 106
miniaturization expensive equipment
Easily accessible, precise control of the 2D/3D structures
Printing Applicable only for soluble materials 112, 115, 118, 125
of the conductive substrates
Monitoring
Target Composition of sensor Fabrication techniques Substrates Ref.
condition
Sputtering and spin-
Glucose GOx/Au/MoS2/Au PI substrate 73
coating
In vitro
Lactate Lox/graphene nanowall CVD and screen printing PET substrate 137
monitoring
Stem cell Bacterial cellulose
PVAN/PANI Chemical synthesis 53
differentiation membrane
Carbon
Electrochemical deposition
Real-time Lactate Lox/PdAu bimetallic nanoparticles fiber/chitosan 146
and chemical modification
monitoring on layers
the body Transfer-printing and
Glucose GO/Prussian blue/gold/PMMA PI substrate 151
electrochemical deposition

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5. Conclusions and Future Perspectives be solved to develop practical wearable biosensors in View
the Article
future. To
Online

Given the widespread interest in wearable devices, including smart solve these challenges, converging researchDOI: in the biosensor field
10.1039/D0TB01325K

devices, wearable biosensing systems have become an important and other relevant fields such as electronics and energy may provide
milestone for next-generation biosensors and possess enormous ways to overcome these limitations soon. Besides, for
potential for application in the fields of wearable healthcare devices commercialization, the mass production system of flexible

Journal of Materials Chemistry B Accepted Manuscript

such as electrocardiogram measurement smartwatches and POCT conductive substrates should be achieved by minimizing the complex
systems. This potential could provide a means to achieve a synthesis process for novel materials and simplifying the complicated
personalized diagnosis and patient-specific analysis, thereby fabrication techniques for biosensors. If these challenges are
achieving the fundamental goals of biosensors, that is, the early, succeeded, it is believed that wearable electrochemical biosensors
precise, and personalized detection of target molecules. can be utilized for personalized POCT systems.

Among the various current biosensor measurement techniques, In conclusion, this review provides important insights into the
electrochemical approaches are uniquely suited for biosensing development of flexible electrochemical biosensors and suggests
purposes given that they meet all the requirements for flexible creative guidelines and inspiration to develop accurate, flexible, and
biosensor development. Given the variety of electrochemical practical electrochemical biosensors.
techniques, including CV, DPV, and EIS, it is possible to select and
apply suitable techniques according to the intended application.
Conflicts of interest
Additionally, electrochemical techniques provide several benefits,
including a rapid response, high sensitivity and selectivity, inherent The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.
miniaturization, convenient operation, and portability, all of which
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make these sensors uniquely suited for the development of flexible

biosensors. As a result, several flexible electrochemical biosensors Acknowledgments
have been extensively studied recently to be applied as wearable This work was supported by the National Research Foundation
biosensor technologies. Several essential requirements must be met of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT)
to further develop flexible electrochemical biosensors, such as (No. 2019R1A2C3002300) and by the Basic Science Research
outstanding flexibility and the capacity to impart conductivity onto Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea
the flexible substrate. Therefore, studies on the development of (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (No.
flexible conductive substrates have been extensively conducted 2016R1A6A1A03012845). Hye Kyu Choi was supported by the
using novel nanomaterials and fabrication techniques. project of Uniance Gene Inc..
This review provides a summary of the current state of flexible
electrochemical biosensor technology, including materials,
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