Stressomic: A wearable microfluidic biosensor for dynamic profiling of multiple stress hormones in sweat

Abstract

Managing stress is essential for mental and physical health, yet current methods rely on subjective self-assessments or indirect physiological measurements, often lacking accuracy. Existing wearable sensors primarily target a single stress hormone, cortisol, using single-point measurements that fail to capture real-time changes and distinguish between acute and chronic stress. To address this, we present Stressomic, a wearable multiplexed microfluidic biosensor for noninvasive monitoring of cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in sweat. Stressomic integrates iontophoresis-driven sweat extraction with bursting valve-regulated microfluidic channels for continuous sampling and analysis. Gold nanodendrite-decorated laser-engraved graphene electrodes achieve picomolar-level sensitivity, enabling simultaneous detection of multiple stress hormones. Electrochemical assays and human studies demonstrate that Stressomic reliably tracks hormone fluctuations in response to physical, psychological, and pharmacological stressors. Distinct temporal patterns reveal the dynamic interplay between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This platform enables continuous, multiplexed stress profiling, offering opportunities for early detection of maladaptive responses, personalized stress management, and deeper insights into stress biology.