Review

The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication

Volume: 54 Number: 2 March 31, 2026
TR EN

The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication

Abstract

Near Field Communication (NFC), a battery-free interface operating at 13.56 MHz and combining energy harvesting and data transmission, is rapidly being adopted in wearable electrochemical sensors. This review systematically evaluates NFC-integration architectures, including antenna/energy harvesting, low-power potentiostat/analog front-end (AFE), and smartphone interfaces, for applications with biomarkers such as glucose, electrolytes, pH, and stress hormones. It summarizes key limitations, such as read distance–power budget tradeoffs, motion artifacts, and drift in biofluids, along with mitigation strategies at the circuit and material levels. Beyond hardware, it discusses artificial intelligence for denoising, calibration, and real-time inference. It evaluates NFC-specific threat models (eavesdropping, relay, spoofing) and countermeasures (signed NDEF, access control, post-quantum cryptography) in the context of health data privacy. It also addresses the sustainability dimension from the perspective of lightweight and recyclable substrates, printed conductors, and energy autonomy. Ultimately, it aims to accelerate the migration of battery-free NFC wearables to point-of-care (PoC) applications by providing a roadmap that combines security-aware electronics, AI-powered analytics, and sustainable manufacturing. This review of the peer-reviewed literature published between 2021 and 2025 prioritises the most recent developments.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Hasret Turkmen was supported by TUBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of TÜRKİYE) [No: 123C441].

Project Number

123C441

Ethical Statement

This manuscript is a literature review that synthesizes and analyzes findings from previously published studies; it does not involve any new experiments with human participants, animals, cell lines, unpublished data, or confidential patient information. Consequently, ethical approval and informed consent were not required. All sources used in this review are properly cited and publicly accessible. The author has adhered to high standards of academic integrity, avoided plagiarism, and accurately represented the findings of the works discussed. The author declares that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, that could have influenced the content or interpretation of this review. No funding body had any role in the design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, or writing the manuscript.

Thanks

The author would like to thank the editors and anonymous referees who provided insightful suggestions and comments to improve the quality of the review paper.

References

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  2. Y. Khan, M. Garg, Q. Gui, M. Schadt, A. Gaikwad, D. Han, A.C. Arias, Flexible hybrid electronics: direct interfacing of soft and hard electronics for wearable health monitoring, Adv. Funct. Mater., 26 (2016) 8764-8775.
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  5. K.I. Jang, S.Y. Han, S. Xu, K.E. Mathewson, Y. Zhang, J.W. Jeong, J.A. Rogers, Rugged and breathable forms of stretchable electronics with adherent composite substrates for transcutaneous monitoring, Nat. Commun., 5 (2014) 4779.
  6. S. Lee, S.H. Byun, C.Y. Kim, S. Cho, S. Park, J.Y. Sim, J.W. Jeong, Beyond human touch perception: an adaptive robotic skin based on gallium microgranules for pressure sensory augmentation, Adv. Mater., 34 (2022) 2204805.
  7. L. Yin, M. Cao, K.N. Kim, M. Lin, J.M. Moon, J.R. Sempionatto, J. Wang, A stretchable epidermal sweat sensing platform with an integrated printed battery and electrochromic display, Nat. Electron., 5 (2022) 694-705.
  8. Y. Lee, J.W. Chung, G.H. Lee, H. Kang, J.Y. Kim, C. Bae, S. Kim, Standalone real-time health monitoring patch based on a stretchable organic optoelectronic system, Sci. Adv., 7 (2021) eabg9180.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sensor Technology, Electrochemistry

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

March 31, 2026

Submission Date

May 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 4, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 54 Number: 2

APA
Turkmen, H. (2026). The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry, 54(2), 85-97. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1700698
AMA
1.Turkmen H. The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication. HJBC. 2026;54(2):85-97. doi:10.15671/hjbc.1700698
Chicago
Turkmen, Hasret. 2026. “The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54 (2): 85-97. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1700698.
EndNote
Turkmen H (March 1, 2026) The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54 2 85–97.
IEEE
[1]H. Turkmen, “The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication”, HJBC, vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 85–97, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.15671/hjbc.1700698.
ISNAD
Turkmen, Hasret. “The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry 54/2 (March 1, 2026): 85-97. https://doi.org/10.15671/hjbc.1700698.
JAMA
1.Turkmen H. The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication. HJBC. 2026;54:85–97.
MLA
Turkmen, Hasret. “The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication”. Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry, vol. 54, no. 2, Mar. 2026, pp. 85-97, doi:10.15671/hjbc.1700698.
Vancouver
1.Hasret Turkmen. The Future of NFC-Based Wearable Electrochemical Sensors: A Review Integrating Biomarker Tracking and Wireless Communication. HJBC. 2026 Mar. 1;54(2):85-97. doi:10.15671/hjbc.1700698

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