Preliminary Tests on a Wearable Moisture Sensor System for Monitoring Astronauts' Wound Healing

In this work, the first experimental tests related to key parameters useful for monitoring astronauts' wound healing are presented. This study is part of a larger research project, WEAR-ME!, funded by the Italian Space Agency, which aims to develop an integrated, miniaturized, and wearable sensorized patch for the non-invasive analysis of a panel of biomarkers useful for assessing astronauts' health status. In particular, the system is designed for monitoring wound healing, a critical aspect of healthcare during space missions. Indeed, ensuring proper wound healing is of utmost importance in such missions, where altered physiological conditions, such as microgravity and prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation, may significantly affect the body's natural recovery processes, potentially leading to delayed healing or increased susceptibility to infections. The WEAR-ME! system integrates advanced chemical and physical sensors, electrical connections, sensor interrogation electronics, into a single, compact and wearable device. This system is designed to continuously monitor multiple physiologically-relevant parameters without requiring manual intervention during astronaut activities. The study specifically focuses on defining the interface and front-end electronics, which are designed to be comfortable, lightweight, flexible, durable, and biocompatible. Additionally, it presents the first experimental tests conducted on the moisture sensor, which have shown promising and encouraging results, paving the way for further advancements in the field.