Multifunctional wearable humidity and pressure sensors based on biocompatible graphene/bacterial cellulose bioaerogel for wireless monitoring and early warning of sleep apnea syndrome

Real time monitoring of respiratory status during sleep is essential to provide immediate feedback for people with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). Conventional strategies to monitor sleeping status rely on polysomnography or inflexible chip sensors. However, the devices used in these methods have poor wearability and comfort and are inconvenient to operate. Here, we report a multifunctional, integrated and low-power wireless flexible sensing platform based on biocompatible bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene hybrids, which can be used not only for monitoring physiological signals and respiration, but also for Morse-code-based wireless communication. Combining the excellent conductivity of graphene and the high mechanical properties of BC, 3D porous Graphene/BC bioaerogel exhibits outstanding pressure sensing properties with a wide operating range (20 pa to 30 kPa), high sensitivity and cycling stability. Moreover, graphene oxide (GO)/BC exhibits excellent humidity sensing performance and realizes real-time monitoring of respiratory waveform and frequency. Finally, wear wireless flexible pressure and humidity sensors for extended periods of time during sleep can provide simultaneously diagnostic data for SAS. This original work shows that the wireless sensor system reported here has potential applicability in the field of medical science and military applications.