Models of Hydrogel Swelling with Applications to Hydration Sensing.

Hydrogels, polymers and various other composite materials may be used insensing applications in which the swelling or de-swelling of the material in response tosome analyte is converted via a transducer to a measurable signal. In this paper, we analyzemodels used to predict the swelling behavior of hydrogels that may be used in applicationsrelated to hydration monitoring in humans. Preliminary experimental data related toosmolality changes in fluids is presented to compare to the theoretical models.

An embedded polymer piezoresistive microcantilever sensor.

We have developed a new type of chemical microsensor based on piezoresistive microcantilever technology. In this embedded polymer microsensor, a piezoresistive microcantilever is partially "embedded" into a polymeric material. Swelling of the polymer upon analyte exposure is measured as a simple resistance change in the embedded cantilever.