Nano-Micro Letters, Volume. 16, Issue 1, 034(2024)

Gelatin-Based Metamaterial Hydrogel Films with High Conformality for Ultra-Soft Tissue Monitoring

Yuewei Chen1,2、†, Yanyan Zhou3、†, Zihe Hu3, Weiying Lu3, Zhuang Li1, Ning Gao3, Nian Liu1, Yuanrong Li1, Jing He1, Qing Gao1, Zhijian Xie3、*, Jiachun Li2、**, and Yong He1、***
Author Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
  • 2School of Mechanical Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, People’s Republic of China
  • 3Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, People’s Republic of China
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    Implantable hydrogel-based bioelectronics (IHB) can precisely monitor human health and diagnose diseases. However, achieving biodegradability, biocompatibility, and high conformality with soft tissues poses significant challenges for IHB. Gelatin is the most suitable candidate for IHB since it is a collagen hydrolysate and a substantial part of the extracellular matrix found naturally in most tissues. This study used 3D printing ultrafine fiber networks with metamaterial design to embed into ultra-low elastic modulus hydrogel to create a novel gelatin-based conductive film (GCF) with mechanical programmability. The regulation of GCF nearly covers soft tissue mechanics, an elastic modulus from 20 to 420 kPa, and a Poisson's ratio from - 0.25 to 0.52. The negative Poisson's ratio promotes conformality with soft tissues to improve the efficiency of biological interfaces. The GCF can monitor heartbeat signals and respiratory rate by determining cardiac deformation due to its high conformability. Notably, the gelatin characteristics of the biodegradable GCF enable the sensor to monitor and support tissue restoration. The GCF metamaterial design offers a unique idea for bioelectronics to develop implantable sensors that integrate monitoring and tissue repair and a customized method for endowing implanted sensors to be highly conformal with soft tissues.

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    Yuewei Chen, Yanyan Zhou, Zihe Hu, Weiying Lu, Zhuang Li, Ning Gao, Nian Liu, Yuanrong Li, Jing He, Qing Gao, Zhijian Xie, Jiachun Li, Yong He. Gelatin-Based Metamaterial Hydrogel Films with High Conformality for Ultra-Soft Tissue Monitoring[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 034

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Jun. 25, 2023

    Accepted: Sep. 24, 2023

    Published Online: Jan. 23, 2025

    The Author Email: Xie Zhijian (xzj66@zju.edu.cn), Li Jiachun (jcli@gzu.edu.cn), He Yong (yongqin@zju.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.1007/s40820-023-01225-z

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