Microfluidics: new tools in sport science

Nowadays, Micro-Total-Analysis-Systems and Lab-on-a-Chip technology are widely used in analytical chemistry and biotechnology but they still are rarely used in other areas like sports science.[1] In this field, the development of wearable chemo-/biosensing that meet the operational requirements is extremely difficult to achieve. In particular, it requires that the desired sample of analysis, usually a body fluid (blood, sweat, urine, saliva, etc.), is delivered to an active surface on the sensor for a reaction to occur and a signal to be generated. Moreover the system must be low cost while also being robust, miniature, flexible, washable, reusable or/disposable. All these requirements point to microfluidic devices as the key tools for improving wearable chemo-/bio-sensing. Here, we will review the state of the art of microfluidics in sports science and we will present the latest results obtained with microfluidic devices in our laboratories to obtain real-time information about physical and physiological parameters in sweat during exercise.[2] Temperature, pH and sodium concentration are monitored in sweat during sport performance and training with a small, wearable microfluidic device that continuously samples and monitors these parameters. Moreover, these devices are light, inherently wearable and robust, and can be easily integrated into a wireless sensor network. The whole device can be incorporated into a simple adhesive plaster format which can be attached to the skin in a few seconds, and causes no discomfort during training.