Liquid Metal Biosensor

The detection of biological substances can provide important references for the provision of physiological information and the indication of life activity state. Room temperature liquid metal (LM) materials have attracted more and more attention due to their soft fluid property and high electronic and thermal conductivity. Especially, due to their higher electrical and thermal conductivity compared with soft polymers, gallium (Ga)-based LM materials have been widely used in soft biosensors. In recent years, due to their wide application in medical diagnosis, fitness monitors, and disease treatment, LM biosensors have attracted much attention. With the further development of material science and engineering technology, LM biosensors with higher detection performance have been developed. In this chapter, the latest applications of LM biosensors from nine aspects are reviewed, including mechanical biosensors, gas biosensors, microfluidic biosensors, electrochemical biosensors, temperature biosensors, magnetic biosensors, electrical biosensors, optical biosensors, and multifunctional biosensors, respectively. LM biosensors played an important role in the innovative solutions for providing the underpinning of core technologies, and transitioning to multifunction, miniaturization, low power consumption, low cost, scalability, high sensitivity, and biodegradation. Although LM biosensors are progressing so rapidly from diagnosis to monitor the progress of diseases, challenges coexist with opportunities always. Tremendous efforts are needed for better research of LM materials and application of LM biosensors in practice. The continued and dynamic developments of LM biosensors are to be expected, and more exciting and innovative results should be anticipated.