Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have developed a groundbreaking, battery-free wearable patch that could help detect skin cancer earlier and more accurately, potentially saving lives by making screening more accessible and less invasive. The study was published in npj Biomedical Innovations.

Skin cancer, especially melanoma, is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Early detection is critical for successful treatment, but current methods often rely on visual inspection, which can be subjective and may miss early warning signs.

More advanced diagnostic tools such as biopsies and imaging are typically only available in specialised clinics.

Mohammad J. Moghimi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, led the development of a new patch that measures the electrical properties (bioimpedance) of skin lesions in a simple, non-invasive way.

Bioimpedance indicates how easily electrical signals pass through living tissue. Cancerous areas often have different electrical properties than healthy skin. By measuring bioimpedance, the patch can help identify abnormal areas that may require further medical evaluation.

The research team designed a flexible, chip-less, battery-free patch that is placed directly on the skin and works wirelessly with a small reader device.

To test its effectiveness, the team recruited 10 volunteers. Each participant had the patch placed on both a pigmented skin lesion (such as a mole) and nearby healthy skin. The patch used safe electrical signals to measure bioimpedance. Standard statistical methods confirmed significant differences between healthy and abnormal skin.

The study showed that the patch could clearly distinguish between healthy skin and spots that might be a concern, picking up unique electrical signals from suspicious moles or lesions regardless of skin tone.

“Skin cancer is most treatable when caught early, but many people don’t have easy access to specialised dermatology care,” said Moghimi, the study’s principal investigator.

“Our wearable patch is designed to be affordable, comfortable and easy to use, even outside of a doctor’s office. It could empower patients and primary care providers to monitor suspicious skin lesions and seek help sooner.”

According to Moghimi, the patch is unique because it does not require batteries or chips, making it lightweight, disposable and cost-effective.

Unlike visual inspection, the patch provides objective, numerical data about the skin’s health, reducing the risk of unnecessary biopsies and helping clinicians make more informed decisions.

This innovation addresses several challenges in skin cancer detection, including the subjectivity of current visual inspection.

The patch provides additional information about lesions that enhances and supports other diagnostic techniques such as imaging-based methods.

The patch works equally well across all skin tones and can detect changes in small or visually ambiguous lesions.

It also generates nonvisual, numerical data, reducing privacy concerns and making it easier to store and share results.

“Our goal is to make early skin cancer detection accessible to everyone,” said Moghimi.

“By providing a tool that can be used at home or in primary care settings, we hope to reduce the number of missed or late diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.”

The research team plans to further improve the patch by integrating conductive hydrogel electrodes for even better performance and comfort.

The next phase will involve larger clinical studies to test the patch’s effectiveness in real-world settings and to determine how well it can distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.

Source: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
DOI: 10.1038/s44385-025-00037-7