July 2024 | Wenyu Wang, Yifei Pan, Yuan Shui, Tawfique Hasan, Ilek Man Lei, Stanley Gong Sheng Ka, Thierry Savin, Santiago Velasco-Bosom, Yang Cao, Susannah B. P. McLaren, Yuze Cao, Fengzhu Xiong, George G. Malliaras & Yan Yan Shery Huang
This article presents a method for imperceptibly augmenting living systems with organic bioelectronic fibres. The approach involves in situ tethering of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-based organic bioelectronic fibres to biological surfaces, including human skin, chick embryos, and plants. The fibres are produced from a solution phase at ambient conditions and can be tailored to achieve desired properties such as transparency, conductivity, and mechanical flexibility. The fibres are tethered directly onto the target surface using an orbital spinning technique, which allows for precise control over fibre orientation, density, and pattern. The resulting bioelectronic fibre arrays can be used to create on-skin electrodes for electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signal recording, skin-gated organic electrochemical transistors, and augmented touch and plant interfaces. The fibres can also be used to couple prefabricated microelectronics and electronic textiles, and they can be repaired, upgraded, and recycled. The method allows for the creation of flexible, conformable, and minimally invasive bioelectronic interfaces that can be tailored to the specific needs of the biological system. The fibres are designed to be minimally invasive, with a low material usage and minimal environmental impact. The study also demonstrates the potential of the method for applications such as environmental monitoring, health management, and biocompatible sensing. The fibres are shown to be compatible with a wide range of biological surfaces and can be used to create multi-modal sensors that can detect a variety of biological signals. The method offers a sustainable and adaptable approach to bioelectronic augmentation, with the potential to transform the way we interact with and perceive our surroundings.This article presents a method for imperceptibly augmenting living systems with organic bioelectronic fibres. The approach involves in situ tethering of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)-based organic bioelectronic fibres to biological surfaces, including human skin, chick embryos, and plants. The fibres are produced from a solution phase at ambient conditions and can be tailored to achieve desired properties such as transparency, conductivity, and mechanical flexibility. The fibres are tethered directly onto the target surface using an orbital spinning technique, which allows for precise control over fibre orientation, density, and pattern. The resulting bioelectronic fibre arrays can be used to create on-skin electrodes for electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signal recording, skin-gated organic electrochemical transistors, and augmented touch and plant interfaces. The fibres can also be used to couple prefabricated microelectronics and electronic textiles, and they can be repaired, upgraded, and recycled. The method allows for the creation of flexible, conformable, and minimally invasive bioelectronic interfaces that can be tailored to the specific needs of the biological system. The fibres are designed to be minimally invasive, with a low material usage and minimal environmental impact. The study also demonstrates the potential of the method for applications such as environmental monitoring, health management, and biocompatible sensing. The fibres are shown to be compatible with a wide range of biological surfaces and can be used to create multi-modal sensors that can detect a variety of biological signals. The method offers a sustainable and adaptable approach to bioelectronic augmentation, with the potential to transform the way we interact with and perceive our surroundings.