Blood bags monitored by glowing silver nanowire sensors in a high-tech storage facility.

Blood Package Guardian: How Smart Sensors Are Revolutionizing Blood Storage

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Wireless temperature monitoring ensures blood safety and reduces waste"

Ensuring the safety of blood samples is a critical aspect of modern healthcare. Blood transfusions are life-saving procedures, but the viability and effectiveness of blood depend heavily on maintaining precise storage conditions. Traditional methods of monitoring blood storage, often relying on measuring refrigeration temperatures in chambers, are inadequate for tracking individual blood packages. This can lead to significant waste and potential risks in emergency situations where compromised blood is used.

In recent years, there has been growing demand for real-time, individual blood package monitoring. This approach requires innovative solutions that can ensure blood samples are stored within the correct temperature range, minimizing metabolic changes and preventing the disposal of usable blood. Advances in flexible and wearable electronics have opened new possibilities for developing sophisticated monitoring systems.

This article explores the development and application of a groundbreaking wireless temperature sensor designed specifically for blood packages. By embedding silver nanowires in a flexible film, this technology provides real-time temperature data, ensuring the safety and efficacy of blood transfusions. We delve into the sensor's design, functionality, and potential to transform blood storage and management in healthcare settings.

The Innovative Design: Silver Nanowires and Flexible Temperature Sensors

Blood bags monitored by glowing silver nanowire sensors in a high-tech storage facility.

The core of this technological advancement lies in the unique design of the flexible temperature sensor. It utilizes silver nanowires (Ag NWs) embedded in a flexible, colorless polyimide (CPI) film. This combination provides the sensor with exceptional electrical, mechanical, and thermal stability, crucial for reliable blood temperature monitoring.

Key aspects of the sensor's design and fabrication include:

3D-Printed Mold Patterning: A three-dimensional (3D) printed mold is used to pattern the Ag NWs, allowing for precise control over their arrangement and density. This technique ensures that the sensor maintains desirable resistance and sensitivity to temperature changes.
Embedding in Colorless Polyimide Film: The patterned Ag NWs are embedded in a CPI film, enhancing the sensor's mechanical stability and flexibility. The CPI film is essential for maintaining the sensor's integrity during bending and handling.
Electrical and Thermal Properties: Silver was chosen for its thermal properties. The properties of silver nanowire (Ag NWs) enable the sensor to have a consistent temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). The material ensures that the sensor responds reliably and linearly to temperature changes in the critical range for blood storage (-20°C to 20°C).
Wireless Integration: The sensor is integrated with a wireless data transmission circuit, enabling real-time temperature monitoring and data logging. This wireless capability allows healthcare professionals to monitor blood packages remotely, ensuring immediate response to any temperature excursions.

The result is a sensor that not only accurately measures temperature but also withstands the rigors of handling and storage, making it a practical solution for blood banks and transfusion centers.

The Future of Blood Storage: Enhanced Safety and Reduced Waste

The development of this wireless, flexible temperature sensor marks a significant step forward in blood storage technology. By enabling real-time monitoring of individual blood packages, this innovation promises to enhance the safety and efficacy of blood transfusions while reducing waste. As the technology continues to evolve, it holds the potential to transform blood banks and transfusion centers, ensuring that blood is stored under optimal conditions and is readily available for those in need.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1021/acsami.8b11928, Alternate LINK

Title: Wireless Real-Time Temperature Monitoring Of Blood Packages: Silver Nanowire-Embedded Flexible Temperature Sensors

Subject: General Materials Science

Journal: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)

Authors: Doo-Young Youn, Uihyun Jung, Muhammad Naqi, Seon-Jin Choi, Min-Goo Lee, Sungho Lee, Hi-Joon Park, Il-Doo Kim, Sunkook Kim

Published: 2018-11-29

Everything You Need To Know

What is the core design of the wireless temperature sensor for monitoring blood packages?

The innovative design incorporates silver nanowires (Ag NWs) embedded in a flexible, colorless polyimide (CPI) film. This combination ensures the sensor's electrical, mechanical, and thermal stability. The Ag NWs are patterned using a 3D-printed mold for precise control, and the CPI film enhances mechanical stability. This design allows for reliable and linear temperature responses within the critical range for blood storage (-20°C to 20°C). A wireless data transmission circuit enables real-time temperature monitoring and data logging.

Why is individual blood package monitoring superior to traditional methods of blood storage monitoring?

The traditional method relies on measuring refrigeration temperatures in chambers which is inadequate for tracking individual blood packages. This method can lead to significant waste and potential risks, especially in emergency situations. Individual blood package monitoring is more precise and allows for real-time data, ensuring that each blood package is stored within the correct temperature range, minimizing metabolic changes and preventing the disposal of usable blood. This approach addresses the limitations of the aggregate measurements of older systems.

How does real-time temperature monitoring of blood packages enhance the safety and efficacy of blood transfusions, especially in emergencies?

The real-time, wireless temperature sensor, by monitoring individual blood packages, provides immediate data on any temperature excursions. This enables healthcare professionals to respond quickly, preventing blood spoilage and ensuring that only viable blood is used for transfusions. This capability is particularly critical in emergency situations, where compromised blood could pose serious risks to patients. The ability to log and analyze temperature data over time also allows for better quality control and process improvement in blood banks and transfusion centers. Wireless temperature monitoring also reduces the need for manual checks, saving time and labor.

What are the key components and fabrication techniques that contribute to the functionality and reliability of the flexible temperature sensor?

The sensor utilizes silver nanowires (Ag NWs) for their thermal and electrical properties, ensuring a consistent temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). The colorless polyimide (CPI) film provides mechanical stability and flexibility, essential for handling and storage. The 3D-printed mold patterning allows for precise control over the arrangement and density of the Ag NWs, optimizing the sensor's sensitivity and reliability. The integration with a wireless data transmission circuit enables remote monitoring and data logging, crucial for real-time management.

What are the broader implications of using wireless, flexible temperature sensors for blood storage, beyond just temperature monitoring?

The development of the wireless temperature sensor can lead to better inventory management by minimizing waste due to spoilage. It also reduces the potential for human error in manual temperature checks and documentation. Furthermore, the real-time data can be integrated into broader healthcare data systems, providing valuable insights into blood storage and transfusion practices. The enhanced safety and efficacy of blood transfusions, along with reduced waste, contribute to more efficient and cost-effective healthcare operations, ultimately improving patient outcomes.