Advances in bio-based wearable flexible sensors

Amidst rising environmental consciousness and the proliferation of wearable technology, bio-based wearable flexible sensors, crafted from biomass, biodegradable, and biocompatible materials, have emerged as a promising field. These sensors are lauded for their eco-friendliness and comfort, positioning them at the forefront of industry trends. The increasing number of research papers in this field has become an indicator of their industrial potential, so it is time for us to summarize the recent research progress on bio-based wearable flexible sensors. This review begins with an exploration of bio-based materials, categorizing them into natural polymers and synthetic polymers and highlighting key examples utilized in sensor fabrication. We then outline various sensor mechanisms and fabrication techniques, evaluating their distinctive features. The work proceeds to enumerate the applications of these sensors, emphasizing their utility in health monitoring, exercise tracking, and the realm of smart clothing. The paper concludes by identifying current challenges and proposing an outlook for future research directions. The aim of this paper is to synthesize the latest research results on these innovative sensors and provide insights to facilitate their wider applications. At the same time, expanding the development potential of bio-based materials enables a win–win situation between the scale-up of biomass applications and the preparation of wearable flexible sensors.