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Wu Q, Chen A, Xu Y, Han S, Zhang J, Chen Y, Hang J, Yang X, Guan L. Multiple physical crosslinked highly adhesive and conductive hydrogels for human motion and electrophysiological signal monitoring. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3666-3675. [PMID: 38623704 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00195h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogel-based flexible electronic devices serve as a next-generation bridge for human-machine interaction and find extensive applications in clinical therapy, military equipment, and wearable devices. However, the mechanical mismatch between hydrogels and human tissues, coupled with the failure of conformal interfaces, hinders the transmission of information between living organisms and flexible devices, which resulted in the instability and low fidelity of signals, especially in the acquisition of electromyographic (EMG) and electrocardiographic (ECG) signals. In this study, we designed an ion-conductive hydrogel (ICHgel) utilizing multiple physical interactions, successfully applied for human motion monitoring and the collection of epidermal physiological signals. By incorporating fumed silica (F-SiO2) nanoparticles and calcium chloride into an interpenetrating network (IPN) composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide (AAm)/acrylic acid (AA) chains, the ICHgel exhibited exceptional tunable stretchability (>1450% strain) and conductivity (10.58 ± 0.85 S m-1). Additionally, the outstanding adhesion of the ICHgel proved to be a critical factor for effective communication between epidermal tissues and flexible devices. Demonstrating its capability to acquire stable electromechanical signals, the ICHgel was attached to different parts of the human body. More importantly, as a flexible electrode, the ICHgel outperformed commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes in the collection of ECG and EMG signals. In summary, the synthesized ICHgel with its outstanding conformal interface capabilities and mechanical adaptability paves the way for enhanced human-machine interaction, fostering the development of flexible electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qirui Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
| | - Anbang Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
| | - Yidan Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Songjiu Han
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
| | - Yujia Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
| | - Jianren Hang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxiang Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China
| | - Lunhui Guan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Key Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, P.R. China.
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Zhang T, Liu N, Xu J, Liu Z, Zhou Y, Yang Y, Li S, Huang Y, Jiang S. Flexible electronics for cardiovascular healthcare monitoring. Innovation (N Y) 2023; 4:100485. [PMID: 37609559 PMCID: PMC10440597 DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2023.100485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most urgent threats to humans worldwide, which are responsible for almost one-third of global mortality. Over the last decade, research on flexible electronics for monitoring and treatment of CVDs has attracted tremendous attention. In contrast to conventional medical instruments in hospitals that are usually bulky, hard to move, monofunctional, and time-consuming, flexible electronics are capable of continuous, noninvasive, real-time, and portable monitoring. Notable progress has been made in this emerging field, and thus a number of significant achievements and concomitant research prospects deserve attention for practical implementation. Here, we comprehensively review the latest progress of flexible electronics for CVDs, focusing on new functions provided by flexible electronics. First, the characteristics of CVDs and flexible electronics and the foundation of their combination are briefly reviewed. Then, four representative applications of flexible electronics for CVDs are elaborated: blood pressure (BP) monitoring, electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, echocardiogram monitoring, and direct epicardium monitoring. Their operational principles, progress, merits and demerits, and future efforts are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and opportunities for flexible electronics for cardiovascular healthcare are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Zhang
- Hangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Zeye Liu
- Department of Structural Heart Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, China & Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yunlei Zhou
- Hangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Yicheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Shoujun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Center, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Center, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- Hangzhou Institute of Technology, Xidian University, Hangzhou 311200, China
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Wang C, He T, Zhou H, Zhang Z, Lee C. Artificial intelligence enhanced sensors - enabling technologies to next-generation healthcare and biomedical platform. Bioelectron Med 2023; 9:17. [PMID: 37528436 PMCID: PMC10394931 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-023-00118-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The fourth industrial revolution has led to the development and application of health monitoring sensors that are characterized by digitalization and intelligence. These sensors have extensive applications in medical care, personal health management, elderly care, sports, and other fields, providing people with more convenient and real-time health services. However, these sensors face limitations such as noise and drift, difficulty in extracting useful information from large amounts of data, and lack of feedback or control signals. The development of artificial intelligence has provided powerful tools and algorithms for data processing and analysis, enabling intelligent health monitoring, and achieving high-precision predictions and decisions. By integrating the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and health monitoring sensors, it becomes possible to realize a closed-loop system with the functions of real-time monitoring, data collection, online analysis, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. This review focuses on the development of healthcare artificial sensors enhanced by intelligent technologies from the aspects of materials, device structure, system integration, and application scenarios. Specifically, this review first introduces the great advances in wearable sensors for monitoring respiration rate, heart rate, pulse, sweat, and tears; implantable sensors for cardiovascular care, nerve signal acquisition, and neurotransmitter monitoring; soft wearable electronics for precise therapy. Then, the recent advances in volatile organic compound detection are highlighted. Next, the current developments of human-machine interfaces, AI-enhanced multimode sensors, and AI-enhanced self-sustainable systems are reviewed. Last, a perspective on future directions for further research development is also provided. In summary, the fusion of artificial intelligence and artificial sensors will provide more intelligent, convenient, and secure services for next-generation healthcare and biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM), National University of Singapore, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore
| | - Tianyiyi He
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM), National University of Singapore, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore
| | - Hong Zhou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM), National University of Singapore, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM), National University of Singapore, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore
| | - Chengkuo Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
- Center for Intelligent Sensors and MEMS (CISM), National University of Singapore, 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore.
- NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, China.
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
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Zhang L, Wang S, Wang Z, Huang Z, Sun P, Dong F, Liu H, Wang D, Xu X. A sweat-pH-enabled strongly adhesive hydrogel for self-powered e-skin applications. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:2271-2280. [PMID: 37022102 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00174a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
On-skin hydrogel electrodes are poorly conformable in sweaty scenarios due to low electrode-skin adhesion resulting from the sweat film formed on the skin surface, which seriously hinders practical applications. In this study, we fabricated a tough adhesive cellulose-nanofibril/poly(acrylic acid) (CNF/PAA) hydrogel with tight hydrogen-bond (H-bond) networks based on a common monomer and a biomass resource. Furthermore, inherent H-bonded network structures can be disrupted through judicious engineering using excess hydronium ions produced through sweating, which facilitate the transition to protonation and modulate the release of active groups (i.e., hydroxyl and carboxyl groups) accompanied by a pH drop. The lower pH enhances adhesive performance, especially on skin, with a 9.7-fold higher interfacial toughness (453.47 vs. 46.74 J m-2), an 8.6-fold higher shear strength (600.14 vs. 69.71 kPa), and a 10.4-fold higher tensile strength (556.44 vs. 53.67 kPa) observed at pH 4.5 compared to the corresponding values at pH 7.5. Our prepared hydrogel electrode remains conformable on sweaty skin when assembled as a self-powered electronic skin (e-skin) and enables electrophysiological signals to be reliably collected with high signal-to-noise ratios when exercising. The strategy presented here promotes the design of high-performance adhesive hydrogels that may serve to record continuous electrophysiological signals under real-life conditions (beyond sweating) for various intelligent monitoring systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
- College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Siheng Wang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - Zhuomin Wang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - Zhen Huang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Penghao Sun
- College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| | - Fuhao Dong
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - He Liu
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - Dan Wang
- Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Material, Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering of Forest Products, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Engineering Research Center of Low-Carbon Processing and Utilization of Forest Biomass, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
| | - Xu Xu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
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Lu Y, Xu X, Li J. Recent advances in adhesive materials used in the biomedical field: adhesive properties, mechanism, and applications. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:3338-3355. [PMID: 36987937 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00251a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Adhesive materials are natural or synthetic polymers with the ability to adhere to the surface of luminal mucus or epithelial cells. They are widely used in the biomedical field due to their unique adhesion, biocompatibility, and excellent surface properties. When used in the human body, they can adhere to an accessible target and remain at the focal site for a longer period, improving the therapeutic effect on local disease. An adhesive material with bacteriostatic properties can play an antibacterial role at the focal site and the adhesive properties of the material can prevent the focal site from being infected by bacteria for a period. In addition, some adhesive materials can promote cell growth and tissue repair. In this review, the properties and mechanism of natural adhesive materials, organic adhesive materials, composite adhesive materials, and underwater adhesive materials have been introduced systematically. The applications of these adhesive materials in drug delivery, antibacterials, tissue repair, and other applications are described in detail. Finally, we have discussed the prospects and challenges of using adhesive materials in the field of biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongping Lu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
| | - Xinyuan Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
| | - Jianshu Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
- Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
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Huang H, Shen J, Wan S, Han L, Dou G, Sun L. Wet-Adhesive Multifunctional Hydrogel with Anti-swelling and a Skin-Seamless Interface for Underwater Electrophysiological Monitoring and Communication. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:11549-11562. [PMID: 36847327 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c21595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A stable and seamless adhesion between the human skin and the hydrogel-based electronic skin is necessary for accurate sensing and human health monitoring in aquatic environments. Despite achieving significant progress in this field, it remains a great challenge to design skin-interfaced conductive hydrogels with high electrical conductivity, stablility, and seamless underwater adhesion to skin. Herein, a skin-inspired conductive multifunctional hydrogel is proposed, which has a wet-adhesive/hydrophilic and a non-adhesive/hydrophobic bilayer structure. The hydrogel shows high stretchability (∼2400%) and an ultra-low modulus (4.5 kPa), which facilitate the conformal and seamless attachment of the hydrogel to the skin with reduced motion artifacts. Owing to synergistic physical and chemical interactions, this hydrogel can achieve reliable underwater adhesion and display remarkable underwater adhesion strength (388.1 kPa) to porcine skin. In addition, MXene has been employed to obtain high electrical conductivity, create a route for stable electron transport, and reinforce mechanical properties. The hydrogel also possesses self-healing ability, a low swelling ratio (∼3.8%), biocompatibility, and specific adhesion to biological tissues in water. Facilitated with these advantages, the hydrogel-based electrodes achieve reliable electrophysiological signal detection in both air and wet conditions and demonstrate a higher signal-to-noise ratio (28.3 dB) than that of commercial Ag/AgCl gel electrodes (18.5 dB). Also, the hydrogel can be utilized as a strain sensor with high sensitivity for underwater communication. This multifunctional hydrogel improves the stability of the skin-hydrogel interface in aquatic environments and is expected to be promising for the next-generation bio-integrated electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhou Huang
- SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication, Device and System, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxin Shen
- SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication, Device and System, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China
| | - Shu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Key Disciplines Laboratory of Novel Micro-Nano Devices and System Technology, School of Optoelectronics Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Longxiang Han
- SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication, Device and System, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China
| | - Guangbin Dou
- SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication, Device and System, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China
| | - Litao Sun
- SEU-FEI Nano-Pico Center, Key Laboratory of MEMS of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication, Device and System, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, P. R. China
- Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacture, Joint Research Institute of Southeast University and Monash University, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China
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