Study Shows Wearable Biosensor Tracks Sweat Markers for Overwork in Real Time
Researchers have unveiled a sensor system designed to continuously monitor signs of overwork, a breakthrough reported by the press service of the RNF. The goal is to help high-level athletes and professionals safeguard performance by catching early indicators of fatigue before it impacts training or competition.
Elite athletes routinely track their health under medical guidance, recognizing that pushing the body beyond safe limits can erode performance and prolong recovery. Overwork signs show up in the body’s chemistry, particularly in organic molecules found in sweat and blood. Among the most informative markers are glucose and lactate. Fluctuations in their levels can reveal fatigue, illness onset, or insufficient recovery, serving as practical gauges for training load management.
MV Lomonosov Moscow State University researchers developed a noninvasive biosensor that measures glucose and lactate in human sweat, eliminating the need for frequent blood draws. The sensor relies on a Prussian blue pigment, a compound formed from iron and cyanide-containing components. The engineering choice was based on chemical properties rather than color—specifically, its sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. This sensitivity enables the conversion of peroxide concentration into an electrical signal detected by the sensor electrode, creating a real-time readout of metabolic state.
Prussian blue, however, has a vulnerability: it can dissolve in the presence of hydroxyl ions that appear in body fluids during the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. To counteract dissolution, the research team coated the nanoparticles with nickel hexacyanoferrate, enhancing stability in sweat and blood samples without compromising signal integrity.
Tests with actual human blood and sweat demonstrated the sensor’s capability to quantify glucose and lactate concentrations with remarkable accuracy. The device reported precise readings across a broad range of concentrations, achieving performance that remains consistent regardless of individual differences in blood or sweat composition. In addition, data collected by the sensor can be transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth, where a dedicated app interprets the results and presents insights without requiring a clinician’s involvement.
The authors anticipate that this technology will become a practical aid for athletes during training cycles, helping coaches and athletes optimize intensity, recovery, and overall workload while preserving peak form.
By offering a noninvasive, real-time window into metabolic status, the sensor aligns with broader efforts to empower individuals with actionable health data. It may also inspire further innovations in wearable diagnostics, expanding the possibilities for at-home monitoring and proactive wellness management, with explicit emphasis on athletic performance and safe training practices.