Functional Laser Induced Graphene from natural bio-plastics (bio-LIG), sustainable composites for non-invasive wearable sweat sensor platforms

Project Information

SusBioLIG

Grant agreement ID: 101032167

DOI

10.3030/101032167

Project closed

EC signature date 8 April 2021

Start date 11 October 2021

End date 10 October 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 196 590,72

EU contribution

€ 196 590,72

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SusBioLIG (Functional Laser Induced Graphene from natural bio-plastics (bio-LIG), sustainable composites for non-invasive wearable sweat sensor platforms)

Reporting period: 2021-10-11 to 2023-10-10

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

What is the problem/issue being addressed?
SusBioLIG addresses the increasing demand by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development towards minimization of the massive amount of plastic and electrical waste associated to the colossal increase in demand for disposable wearable sensors and patches1. In parallel the project seeks to address crucial knowledge gaps in the emerging field of green sensing by investigation of a novel environmentally friendly method for the fabrication of biodegradable wearable sensors. The actual knowledge gaps are based on the challenging requirements for the ambitious achievement of “green” sensing, necessitating the combined and concomitant availability of i) highly abundant and low cost precursors with ii) high throughput green synthetic routes compatible with iii) low cost processing routes and leading to iv) biodegradable (compostable) and/or recyclable devices.

Why is it important for society?
As it stands the proposed bio-LIG method constitutes the first example of sensing platforms made entirely from sustainable bioplastic materials and fabricated by means of green technologies. The greatest innovation of the project relies on the merging of LIG & bio-plastics technologies that, when successful, will realise the potential of a fully biodegradable functional bio-plastic material for point-of-care (POC) sensing, replacing single-use plastics derived from fossil fuels. Therefore, from a technological & scientific perspective, this can open up a host of new possibilities in material science not previously envisioned, whereby tailorable biopolymers can be situationally and environmentally re-purposed and re-used to match the needs of the user. Further novelty arises from addressing the EU and global increasing concern associated to the environmental impact of plastic waste. In this respect, the proposed technology and materials meet all requirements stated by the Circular Economy Action Plan, one of the main blocks of the European Green Deal, and part of Europe's transition
towards a circular economy, and will also contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, the global climate commitments and the EU's industrial policy objectives.

What are the overall objectives?
The overall aim of SusBioLIG is to use of biopolymer composites for the fabrication of next generation all natural and biodegradable wearable sensing platforms based on the synthesis of high quality graphene-like structures by direct laser writing (laser induced graphene, LIG).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

SusBioLIG started with the systematic investigation of the bio-LIG process whereby a combination of experimental and theoretical work carried out to understand chemico-physical mechanism enabling LIG formation on chitosan, possibility of extending this process to other biodegradable polymers, the formulation of biopolymer substrate and lasing experimental conditions (laser power, scan rate, wavelength) resulting electrodes displaying high electrocatalytic performance. After optimization of chemical composition of biopolymer and instrumental settings, the biosensing capability of the produced bio-LIGs was tested for glucose and lactate. And compared to those on polyimide based LIGs. The resultant biosensors showed high stabilities, reproducible behaviors, good analytical performance, and interference-free responses. Finally the ability of the biosensors to detect glucose and lactate were successfully tested in artificial sweat. The results of first part of the project (chitosan based biosensors) was published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosx.2023.100403). This concept was extended to the other biopolymeric films and the manuscript is under preparation to publish in a highly ranked journal. Regarding dissemination the following talks/poster presentations were given:
EMRS Spring Meeting, Strasburg, France. Development of a glucose electrochemical biosensor based on scribing laser induced graphene on natural biopolymer platforms, I. Bioinspired and biointegrated materials as new frontiers nanomaterials (11th edition). H. Hamidi, E. Vaughan, C. Larrigy, A. Quinn, D. Iacopino. 29 May -2 June 2023, Oral presentation.
Biosensors 2023, 33rd Anniversary World Congress on Biosensors, Busan, South Korea. A Novel Electrochemical Glucose Biosensor Based on Laser Induced Graphene from Chitosan: Towards Next Generation, Sustainable, And Biodegradable Diagnostic Device, H. Hamidi, D. Iacopino, 5-8 June 2023, poster.
Green Materials and Fabrication Approaches for Sustainable IoT. Oral presentation, IoT week. Dublin, June 2022.
eFutures Electronics for Sustainable Societies Conference, poster presentation, Liverpool, 13th Sept, 2022
SFI poster Bioplastic LIG Electrodes for Sensing and Energy Storage Applications. H. Hamidi, E. Vaughan, J. Islam, A. J. Quinn, D. Iacopino. November 2022.
ADI ETC 2022: Poster Bioplastic LIG Electrodes for Sensing and Energy Storage Applications. H. Hamidi, E. Vaughan, J. Islam, A. J. Quinn, D. Iacopino November 2022
IEEE Sensors 2023 Vienna, Oct 2023, Green electrode materials for sustainable sensing. H. Hamidi, Daniela Iacopino. Oral presentation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Throughout this project we reported for the first time the application of natural bioplastic films in the construction of an electrochemical glucose biosensor. We hence strongly believe that these platforms could play a key role in development of next generation green wearable sensing platforms for monitoring of health and wellbeing parameters.

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