Portable and wearable real-time stress monitoring: A critical review

Abstract This review aims to summarize the rapidly emerging field of real-time stress monitoring by focusing on early breakthroughs and critical developments in portable and wearable cortisol sensors. Here, brief, albeit comprehensive, information on technological advances and current state-of-the-art concepts on real-time cortisol sensing are provided. Specific examples where materials include up-to-date information related to complex sensing conditions, and methodologies, are pieced together. Examples of electrochemical cortisol sensing are categorized by sample types, focusing on sensing from body fluids in vitro and wearable sensors, which have attracted significant interest due to their integration with everyday life activity. The overall progress made to date in building such conceptualized efforts for real-time, continuous monitoring of cortisol and the future of the field is discussed.