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Abstract
Flexible biosensors form part of a rapidly growing research field that take advantage
of a multidisciplinary approach involving materials, fabrication and design strategies
to be able to function at biological interfaces that may be soft, intrinsically curvy,
irregular, or elastic. Numerous exciting advancements are being proposed and developed
each year towards applications in healthcare, fundamental biomedical research, food
safety and environmental monitoring. In order to place these developments in perspective,
this review is intended to present an overview on field of flexible biosensor development.
We endeavor to show how this subset of the broader field of flexible and wearable
devices presents unique characteristics inherent in their design. Initially, a discussion
on the structure of flexible biosensors is presented to address the critical issues
specific to their design. We then summarize the different materials as substrates
that can resist mechanical deformation while retaining their function of the bioreceptors
and active elements. Several examples of flexible biosensors are presented based on
the different environments in which they may be deployed or on the basis of targeted
biological analytes. Challenges and future perspectives pertinent to the current and
future stages of development are presented. Through these summaries and discussion,
this review is expected to provide insights towards a systematic and fundamental understanding
for the fabrication and utilization of flexible biosensors, as well as inspire and
improve designs for smart and effective devices in the future.