1 Introduction

Physiological information serves as a valuable indicator of animals' health status and biological characteristics. Through the continuous monitoring of various indicators, including metabolites, body temperature, and respiratory rate, it becomes possible to detect a wide range of health concerns such as infections, organ impairment, and metabolic disorders. In the field of animal husbandry, the technology for monitoring animal physiology assists farmers and veterinarians in understanding and monitoring the health, behavior, and production performance of livestock. Consequently, it enhances production efficacy, guarantees the exportation of products, and upholds public health and safety [1]. For pet owners, monitoring physiological information about pets can help owners monitor their pets’ health issues more quickly, enhance diagnosis and treatment effectiveness [2]. In the realm of animal research, researchers are capable of gras** information about animal metabolism, and the neurological system, further providing crucial references for researching human diseases. Overall, the advancement of animal physiological monitoring technology will benefit animal health and welfare, encourage the development of animal husbandry and pet health, and provide critical assistance for the research of human diseases.

Animal physiological information encompasses various parameters such as body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, weight, exercise ability, and chemicals. The traditional method of monitoring physiological information is the collection of samples for in vitro biochemical, immune, genetic, and other analyses. Techniques such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and mass spectrometry are commonly employed in laboratory settings for humoral analysis. These techniques enable accurate early-stage disease diagnosis, leading to reduced medical expenses and improved health outcomes [3]. ELISA and PCR, as gold standards for immunological and molecular diagnostics, are particularly significant in the screening of diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, genetic and hormonal abnormalities. However, these techniques are still costly and time-consuming, necessitating the use of skilled workers and specialized gear. Researchers are faced with the task of finding alternative diagnostic devices to replace the conventional diagnostic methods. Microsensors have been extensively utilized for monitoring animal physiological information and as auxiliary tools for disease diagnosis, which can be classified as wearable (skin) [4], implantable (tissue) [5], ingestible (gastrointestinal tract) [6] depending on the location of the microsensor application. Wearable sensors detect biomarkers in the biological fluid on the body surface non-invasively, but their accuracy is constrained due to the restricted volume of the biological fluid for detection. Ingestible sensors provide accurate measurement results; however, their long-term presence in the body may pose a threat to animal health. On the other hand, implantable microsensors offer a reliable method for monitoring physiological information that is bloodless, painless, and minimally invasive. Among them, electrochemical sensors have been at the forefront of clinical diagnostics owing to their high performance, portability, simplicity, and low cost [7]. Implantable electrochemical microsensors have been widely employed for monitoring animal physiological information, such as glucose, lactate, dopamine, and biomacromolecules. These sensors assist users in promptly assessing the health status of animals, detecting issues, and implementing suitable actions.

This review mainly focuses on monitoring animal physiological information, with a particular emphasis on the widespread use of implantable electrochemical microsensors in this field, owing to their high sensitivity and minimally invasive characteristics. In this review, we comprehensively discussed materials, the fabrication methods, and implantation technologies of microsensors, and innovatively summarized the application of implantable electrochemical microsensors in monitoring physiological information in animals. The development and marketing of implantable electrochemical microsensors require addressing important factors such as long-term durability, compatibility with the human body, reliable power source, and the ability to monitor multi-analytes. The conclusion summarizes the difficulties and potential advancements in the future of implantable electrochemical microsensors for monitoring animal physiological data in vivo (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Implantable electrochemical microsensors including materials, fabrication methods, implantation technologies, and reported applications. Created with BioRender.com

2 Fabrication of Implantable Electrochemical Microsensors

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of implantable electrochemical microsensors. Figure 2 illustrates advances in implantable electrochemical microsensors. With the development of materials science, energy and microfabrication, implantable electrochemical microsensors for in vivo monitoring are undergoing a transformation toward miniaturization, multi-analyte sensing, self-powered, and integration of diagnosis and treatment. The choice of materials and fabrication methods plays a crucial role in determining the size, stability, and sensitivity of microsensors [8].

Fig. 2
figure 2

Copyright 2013 Springer Nature; First commercial implantable continuous glucose monitor (CGM) [10]. Copyright 2020 Royal of American Society; A self-powered implantable skin-like glucometer [11]. Copyright 2018 Springer; An implantable system for sensing of cell-free DNA [12]. Copyright 2020 Springer Nature; Flexible microneedle (MN) sensors for monitoring pH distribution in rats [13]. Copyright 2021 The American Association for the Advancement of Science; A closed-loop system for managing diabetes [14]. Copyright 2022 John Wiley and Sons; A tissue-like neurotransmitter sensor [15]. Copyright 2022 Springer Nature; A miniaturized, fully integrated, wirelessly sensor for monitoring of multi-analytes [16]. Copyright 2022 Springer Nature

Overview of important developments of implantable electrochemical microsensors in the past decade which include First implantable glucose biofuel cell [9].

2.1 Materials

The choice of materials is a critical factor that significantly impacts the performance of sensor components. Given the requirement for long-term implantation in vivo monitoring, implantable electrochemical microsensors necessitate substrate and electrode materials with enhanced biocompatibility, stability, conductivity, and mechanical strength. These characteristics are essential to ensure the biocompatibility and reliability of long-term monitoring.

2.1.1 Substrate Materials

Substrate material serves as the physical supporting structure of the sensor, facilitating the reaction and monitoring processes. In sensor applications, substrate materials are typically required to possess high stability and mechanical strength, while also exhibiting electrical characteristics to ensure optimal sensor performance and accuracy. Rigid substrate materials such as some metals, semiconductors often possess desirable properties such as processability and good mechanical properties [17]. Silicon, for instance, is a type of important substrate material for microsensors due to its excellent semiconductor properties, mechanical strength, and easy processability. Dervisevic et al. designed a high-density silicon-based MN electrochemical sensor for glucose monitoring which shows good performance [18]. Silicon-based MN has good permeability and is easy to penetrate the skin. However, silicon is prone to breakage when implanted under the skin, raising significant biological concerns [19]. Stainless steel substrate is another commonly used metal substrate material, known for its high mechanical strength and machinability, which is easy to be manufactured into a variety of shapes and structures of the sensor. Using stainless steel needles as substrates, Zhang's team fabricated electrochemical microsensors that can be used to wonderfully monitor neurochemicals such as dopamine, norepinephrine and nitric oxide in the rat brain [20,21,22,13]. MNA with Au electrodes and polyaniline (PANI) deposited on the surface was used to monitor the pH distribution in the skin layer of a rat model of peripheral vascular disease. Considering better biocompatibility, Odinotski et al. prepared an HMN-based electrode (Fig. 7b) consisting of DA-HA hydrogel combined with PEDOT: PSS, with the intrinsic catechol quinone chemistry of DA used to measure the pH of ISF. HMN pH sensor is capable of in vivo measurements with 93% accuracy, providing a new direction for wearable sensors [103]. Li et al. designed a simple electrochemical microbial sensor (ECMB) based on the in situ self-assembly of AgNPs coated on MXene Titanium Carbide (Ti3C2Tx) [13].