Fabrication of the Flexible, Biocompatible, and Permeable Graphene/PLA Strain Sensor for Wearable Devices

Real-time human motion monitoring is of importance particularly for patients after surgery, and wearable devices should be chemically inert, nontoxic, and biocompatible to human body, and should possess high sensitivity. However, it is still a challenge to integrate such advantages into one devices. Here we provided a flexible strain sensor based on graphene with polylactic acid (PLA) fibrous membrane as substrate. Apart from the excellent flexibility and perfect surface compliance, the strain sensor revealed a good sensitivity, and long-term durability and repeatability. Also, it demonstrated a good hydrophobicity and permeability, preventing the uncomfortability and possible infection from sweat and water vapor. In addition, excellent biocompatibility and biological safety have been measured. All these advantages endowed it capability for the fabrication of wearable device to real-time detect the human motion, particularly for patients after surgery.