Hydrogel-based soft bioelectronics for personalized healthcare

Soft bioelectronics have emerged as a promising platform for personalized healthcare, offering improved compatibility with biological tissues. Among various soft materials, hydrogels stand out due to their unique tissue-like properties and multifunctionality. However, the development of hydrogel-based bioelectronics faces three major challenges: (1) achieving a wide range of mechanical properties, from kilopascals to gigapascals, to match diverse tissues from soft brain to stiff tendon; (2) balancing and decoupling various material properties, particularly mechanical and electrical characteristics, and (3) achieving effective implantation and integration with target organs.

The team led by Ximin He from University of California provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in hydrogel-based bioelectronics, focusing on strategies to address these challenges. They first explore approaches to tune the mechanical properties of hydrogels, matching them with a wide range of tissues from soft brain tissue to stiff tendons. They then discuss innovative methods to incorporate conductivity into hydrogels while maintaining their mechanical integrity, highlighting recent developments in conductive polymers that show potential in decoupling electrical and mechanical properties. To address the challenge of implantation, they examine emerging concepts in stimuli-responsive hydrogels capable of programmable deformation, enabling targeted attachment and conformability to specific organs. They also categorize and analyze applications of hydrogel-based systems in both wearable and implantable devices, compiling the latest progress in hydrogel bioelectronics at the application level.

While significant advancements have been made, integrating multiple functionalities within a single hydrogel-based device remains a considerable challenge. Further research is necessary to develop truly multimodal bioelectronic systems that can seamlessly interface with the human body, ultimately translating these promising technologies into clinical practice.

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