Multifunctional Materials Strategies for Enhanced Safety of Wireless, Skin‐Interfaced Bioelectronic Devices

Abstract

Many recently developed classes of wireless, skin‐interfaced bioelectronic devices rely on conventional thermoset silicone elastomer materials, such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), as soft encapsulating structures around collections of electronic components, radio frequency antennas and, commonly, rechargeable batteries. In optimized layouts and device designs, these materials provide attractive features, most prominently in their gentle, noninvasive interfaces to the skin even at regions of high curvature and large natural deformations. Past studies, however, overlook opportunities for developing variants of these materials for multimodal means to enhance the safety of the devices against failure modes that range from mechanical damage to thermal runaway. This study presents a self‐healing PDMS dynamic covalent matrix embedded with chemistries that provide thermochromism, mechanochromism, strain‐adaptive stiffening, and thermal insulation, as a collection of attributes relevant to safety. Demonstrations of this materials system and associated encapsulation strategy involve a wireless, skin‐interfaced device that captures mechanoacoustic signatures of health status. The concepts introduced here can apply immediately to many other related bioelectronic devices.

Resorbable conductive materials for optimally interfacing medical devices with the living

“…Elastomers do not possess the viscoelastic properties of soft tissues ( Figure 2 ). However, they are particularly interesting in interfacing with highly stretchable tissues, such as skin, and are extensively used in the field of wearable bioelectronic systems and “skin electronics” (e-skin) ( Park et al, 2022a ; Gong et al, 2022 ; Liu et al, 2023a ). Their mechanical toughness makes them also interesting when in contact with moderately “hard” tissues, like the tendons and heart.…”

3-Pyridylvinyl benzoxazole-derived multifunctional organic materials—from solid-state photoreactivity to photophysical and electrochemical properties

“…Research on developing multifunctional materials has drawn immense interest in the past few decades as such materials can offer low cost and simplicity of manufacture as well as enhanced environmental sustainability. 1–3 Functional organic compounds have also been shown to offer multifaceted materials applications, just as purely inorganic, inorganic–organic hybrid, or composite materials do. 1–3 In combination with suitable donor (D) and acceptor (A) groups, different classes of organic compounds ( e.g.…”

“…1–3 Functional organic compounds have also been shown to offer multifaceted materials applications, just as purely inorganic, inorganic–organic hybrid, or composite materials do. 1–3 In combination with suitable donor (D) and acceptor (A) groups, different classes of organic compounds ( e.g. , D–π, A–π, D–π–D, A–π–A, D–π–A, etc. )…”

Electrical Resistance Response to Strain in 3D-Printed Conductive Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

“…In biomechanical applications, recent studies show sensors capable of measuring body movements, joint bending motions, phonations, and cardiac activities [29]. There has also been a development in 3D-printed nanostructures that allow for the mechanical sensing of products [30].…”