Themed collection Soft wearable sensors

Toward Next-Generation Smart Medical Care Wearables: Meeting Microfluidics on Microneedles
Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00060B

Becoming a Foodie in Virtual Environments: Simulating and Enhancing the Eating Experience with Wearable Electronics for the Next-Generation VR/AR
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00488H

Machine learning in biosignal analysis from wearable devices
This review outlines key machine learning algorithms for biosignal analysis and offers guidance on model selection. Applications in neural, cardiovascular, and biochemical signal monitoring for health tracking and disease prediction are discussed.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00451A
Shape-morphing bioelectronic devices
Working principles, representative deformation modes, manufacturing methodologies, diverse applications, as well as challenges and opportunities of shape-morphing bioelectronic devices.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00453E
Innovative biosensing smart masks: unveiling the future of respiratory monitoring
An innovative biosensing smart mask for the future of respiratory monitoring.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00279F
Wearable Biosensors for Health Monitoring: Advances in Graphene-Based Technologies
Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00141B

Empowering artificial muscles with intelligence: recent advancements in materials, designs, and manufacturing
This review emphasizes memory-based intelligence, enabling artificial muscles to execute a range of pre-programmed movements and refresh stored actuation states in response to changing conditions, as well as sensory-based intelligence.
Mater. Horiz., 2025,12, 2764-2788
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00236B
Wet Chemically Produced Nanomaterials for Soft Wearable Biosensors
Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NH00048C
Porous polymers: structure, fabrication and application
This review systematically examines the structural features, fabrication techniques, and applications of porous polymers, as well as their interrelationships, to serve as a guide for researchers.
Mater. Horiz., 2025,12, 2436-2466
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH01618A

A Multilayer Template Stripping Transfer Printing Method for Engineered Stretchable Electronics
Nanoscale, 2025, Accepted Manuscript
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5NR01652E

Multilayer iontronic sensors with controlled charge gradients for high-performance, self-powered tactile sensing
A multilayered piezoionic sensor with positively and negatively charged surface layers enhances ion mobility and accelerates charge redistribution, leading to significantly improved sensing performance.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00503E
Bioinspired leaf vein-architected gold nanowire ecoflexible biosensors for ultrasensitive occlusal force monitoring
A leaf vein-architected AuNW ecoflexible biosensor, enabling the seamless integration of plant-based substrates with functional gold nanowires for occlusal force monitoring.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00460H

Reconfigurable double-sided smart textile circuit with liquid metal
A liquid metal and silver flakes-based smart textile enables double-sided circuit designs without via holes. Pressure-controlled sintering allows dynamic insulation or interlayer connection, supporting reconfigurable wearable electronics.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00462D

A novel thickness-gradient electrospun nanomesh for interface-free e-skin applications
A seamless thickness-gradient nanomesh eliminates abrupt interfaces between soft e-skin and rigid interconnectors. This continuous concept enhances mechanical and electrical durability, and integration with textiles for next-generation wearables.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MH00181A

Ultrathin and permeable silver nanowires/polyvinyl alcohol epidermal electrode for continuous electrophysiological monitoring
The ultrathin AgNWs/PVA gel electrode with high stretchability, strong adhesion, and excellent air permeance to ensure stable, high-fidelity and long-term electrophysiological monitoring.
Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH01858C
Highly sensitive strain sensors with ultra-low detection limit based on pre-defined serpentine cracks
In this study, we introduce a novel resistive strain sensor with high sensitivity, excellent linearity, and an ultra-low detection limit by simply modulating ohmic contact within pre-defined conductive cracks.
Mater. Horiz., 2025,12, 178-189
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH01136H
Multi-channel wearable fiber sensors with high sensitivity for limb motion recognition
A wearable health monitoring sensor based on flexible fibers with high sensitivity capable of detecting various limb movements and monitoring different physiological signals was developed using a coaxial co-injection capillary microfluidic device.
J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025,13, 4503-4512
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TA08135H
About this collection
Next-generation soft wearable sensors hold significant promise for revolutionizing healthcare and human-computer interaction by providing seamless integration between the human body and electronic devices. These advanced systems, characterized by their flexibility, stretchability, and biocompatibility, enable continuous monitoring of physical parameters such as body motion, physiological parameters like heart rate, and biochemical markers like electrolytes and cortisol levels in sweat in real-time. This real-time data collection can lead to more personalized and timely medical interventions, enabling a shift from hospital-centred healthcare to patient-centred healthcare.
Beyond healthcare, next-generation soft wearable sensors have applications in fitness, sports, and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), paving the way for innovative approaches to human performance enhancement and interactive technologies. They offer significant advancements in human-machine interaction, enhancing experiences in the metaverse and beyond. This special collection across Materials Horizons and Nanoscale Horizons, guest edited by Professors John Rogers (Northwestern University, USA), Wenlong Cheng (University of Sydney, Australia), Alina Rwei (TU Delft, Netherlands), Dae-Hyeong Kim (Seoul National University, South Korea) and Nanshu Lu (University of Texas at Austin, USA), aims to provide a platform to showcase the recent progress and challenges in the field of soft wearable sensors addressing the exciting current challenges in biosensors, bioelectronics, medicine, healthcare, AR/VR and soft robotics.