Edible Electronics: Biocompatible and Biodegradable Materials for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors (Adv. Funct. Mater. 23/2010)

Abstract

Biocompatible‐ingestible electronic circuits and capsules for medical diagnosis and monitoring are currently based on traditional silicon technology. Organic electronics has huge potential for developing biodegradable, biocompatible, bioresorbable, or even metabolizable products. An ideal pathway for such electronic devices involves fabrication with materials from nature, or materials found in common commodity products. Transistors with an operational voltage as low as 4–5 V, a source drain current of up to 0.5 μA and an on‐off ratio of 3–5 orders of magnitude have been fabricated with such materials. This work comprises steps towards environmentally safe devices in low‐cost, large volume, disposable or throwaway electronic applications, such as in food packaging, plastic bags, and disposable dishware. In addition, there is significant potential to use such electronic items in biomedical implants.

Biodegradable Materials for Sustainable Health Monitoring Devices

“…For instance, an in vivo investigation of fully hydrated melanin thin films with conductivities of 7 × 10 –5 S/cm revealed that the melanin implants are almost fully eroded and resorbed after 8 weeks . Other eco-friendly and biodegradable natural conjugated materials include the molecule accountable for the orange color of carrots, β-carotene and byproducts of a natural laxative, anthraquinone. , Although these natural or nature-inspired conjugated molecules possess exciting potential, strict processing constraints are required to attain the most advantageous morphology and orientation for sufficient device performance . Thus, to better understand and predict the future of these materials, a greater assessment of charge transfer and electrochemical features is required .…”

“…A variety of additional natural compounds, including bio-organics, such as sodium alginate and even foodstuffs, like charcoal, rice paper, potato starch, gelatin seaweed, and cheese, have also been used as natural substrates for biodegradable devices. 22,116 2.1.2. Synthetic Polymer Substrate.…”

Biomaterials‐Based Electronics: Polymers and Interfaces for Biology and Medicine

“…Consequently, the unique electronic signatures of highly evolved biological materials can be harnessed into device architectures. Materials that can be isolated from the native environment and repurposed into thin film technologies may serve as useful device technologies ( Figure ) 3. This section presents an emerging theme of recapitulating biologically‐derived semiconductors, insulators, and metals as components in electronic devices.…”

“…Hydrophilic biopolymers are perfectly suitable for gate dielectrics while a wide range of polymers, both natural and synthetic, are appropriate for use as flexible device substrates with additional capabilities such as compostability and bioabsorbability. Reproduced with permission 3…”

Laser‐Induced, Green and Biocompatible Paper‐Based Devices for Circular Electronics

“…In this perspective, hydrogels, [9,10] soft polymers, [11] and plant-derived natural compounds [12] have showed stable performance as conductors, insulators and semiconductors. [13] Among these, the use of paper or cellulose-based materials has been widely explored as substrate material [14] for flexible electronics. Although reliable recycling processes allow infinite and sustainable reuse of cellulose, the materials employed in the device stack (i.e., toxicants, pollutants, rare-Earth elements) are still limiting factors, to achieve a green transition.…”