Surface Engineering in Wearable Sensors for Medical Diagnostic Applications

In a time of rising average population and complex illnesses, the healthcare system is strained and struggling to keep costs low. Wearable devices are a potential solution to detecting the onset of sickness allowing for early treatment as well as continuous monitoring to prevent readmittance. Utilization of sensors to monitor patients will allow them to return to the comfort of their home while still under physician supervision remotely in case treatment is necessary, freeing up hospital space and staff to treat those in need of direct care. Additionally, in the consumer market, wearable devices are utilized by millions of users to monitor their vital signs and general health. In this manuscript, various wearable device, biosensors, and their applications are presented, as well as methods such as surface engineering, a powerful tool to incorporate materials into devices to result in increased functionality. Current challenges and the future outlook of the wearables industry are also discussed.