Hydrogel-Based Bioelectronics and Their Applications in Health Monitoring

Abstract

Flexible bioelectronics exhibit promising potential for health monitoring, owing to their soft and stretchable nature. However, the simultaneous improvement of mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and signal-to-noise ratio of these devices for health monitoring poses a significant challenge. Hydrogels, with their loose three-dimensional network structure that encapsulates massive amounts of water, are a potential solution. Through the incorporation of polymers or conductive fillers into the hydrogel and special preparation methods, hydrogels can achieve a unification of excellent properties such as mechanical properties, self-healing, adhesion, and biocompatibility, making them a hot material for health monitoring bioelectronics. Currently, hydrogel-based bioelectronics can be used to fabricate flexible bioelectronics for motion, bioelectric, and biomolecular acquisition for human health monitoring and further clinical applications. This review focuses on materials, devices, and applications for hydrogel-based bioelectronics. The main material properties and research advances of hydrogels for health monitoring bioelectronics are summarized firstly. Then, we provide a focused discussion on hydrogel-based bioelectronics for health monitoring, which are classified as skin-attachable, implantable, or semi-implantable depending on the depth of penetration and the location of the device. Finally, future challenges and opportunities of hydrogel-based bioelectronics for health monitoring are envisioned.

Harnessing the potential of hydrogels for advanced therapeutic applications: current achievements and future directions

“… 664 In the field of biosensors, hydrogels are driving innovations, enhancing non-invasive monitoring technologies to provide sensitive, accurate, and continuous assessments of health conditions, thereby marking a significant advancement in our capability to monitor physiological states with precision and ease. 665 The integration of hydrogel-based technologies into the landscape of disease diagnosis and treatment offers the promise of more efficient treatment protocols, reduced recovery times, and the potential to tackle complex medical challenges that have remained elusive.…”

Electrolyte-gated amorphous IGZO transistors with extended gates for prostate-specific antigen detection

“…Despite of the double layer capacitance capable of effectively modulating the channel carriers in extended-gate transistors, ionic liquid electrolytes exhibit poor stability due to solvent volatility and leakage, as well as poor contact interface between the dynamically changing liquid electrolytes and the channel, which adversely affect the electronic performance of transistors, especially during long-term operation. 27,28 For example, high reactivity of most Si compounds with water in electrolytes may cause poor stability at the electrolyte/semiconductor interface, and thereby lead to reduction in electronic performance. 29 Besides, some two-dimensional materials such as selenium disulfide are sensitive to moisture, and the possible side reactions when contacted with electrolytes hinder the practical applications in electrolyte-gated transistors.…”

Amphibious Multifunctional Hydrogel Flexible Haptic Sensor with Self-Compensation Mechanism

“…Its application in wearable devices is particularly prominent [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Hydrogel-based pressure sensors not only have good flexibility and comfort, but also can realize real-time monitoring of the dynamic pressure of the human body, and thus, they are widely used in medical and health monitoring [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], smart sports equipment [23][24][25][26][27], and other fields. However, as the application scenarios of hydrogel sensors continue to expand, their stability and accuracy in dynamic environments are challenged due to the fact that gelbased sensors have resistance drift problems due to material degradation and environmental factors [28,29], as well as in underwater environments; hydrogel sensors' characteristics of absorbing and expanding water [30][31][32] can also affect the accurate monitoring of hydrogelbased sensors.…”