Bioinspired Face Mask for Exhaled Breath Condensate Collection and Multiplexed Biomarkers Analysis.

Abstract

The respiratory disease pandemic has heightened interest in breathomics. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC), which is a noninvasive and information-rich biofluid, holds great promise for personalized health management. However, insufficient collection and limited analytical versatility remain major challenges for wearable EBC analysis. Here, the bioinspired design and performance of a wearable face mask for efficient sampling (0.86 μL min^-1 per well) and in situ electrochemical monitoring of four biomarkers (alcohol, NO₂^-, NH₄⁺, and pH) in EBC are reported. The face mask sensor platform consists of a multistage thermoelectric cooling module, a bionic superhydrophobic self-cleaning cover, an expandable 4 × 4 electrode array, and an electrochemical microsystem readout circuit. The surface temperature rapidly decreases to 12.5 °C within 1 min, reaching the exhaled vapor dew point to ensure rapid condensation. A wettability-gradient interface, constructed by a patterned superhydrophobic micro/nanostructured PDMS cover and hydrophilic electrode regions, effectively guides the biofluid into the sensor regions and stably fixes it even under 180° rotation. The usability of this system is demonstrated by tracking metabolic responses in healthy participants following alcohol and high-protein food intake, as well as by enabling continuous dynamic monitoring of four biomarkers in EBC. This wearable EBC analysis system offers a versatile strategy for real-time breath analysis and may help personalized respiratory healthcare, metabolism tracking, and environmental exposure analysis.