Transient Materials and Bioelectronics for Advanced Healthcare

Electronic systems have been serving as technological underpinnings that support most aspects of our lives, ranging from healthcare, energy, to artificial intelligence. Any advancement that can push the fundamental boundary of electronic systems will cascade a revolutionary effect on a significant collection of major industries, especially healthcare and automation. By harnessing the unique properties of soft materials and nanomaterials, next-generation electronic systems will integrate intelligently with living organisms, soft robotics, and other dynamic physical systems. However, the intrinsic mismatch in electrical, optical, mechanical and other properties between soft materials and nanomaterials challenges their effective integration towards high-performance hybrid systems.

This presentation will discuss the scientific concepts that aim to converge soft materials science with translational engineering, towards an emerging class of electronic and photonic systems that dissolve, disintegrate or otherwise disappear at triggered times or with controlled rates. Such ‘transient’ electronics provide a dynamic interface to biological systems and evolving environments, that not only offer adaptive sensing and stimulation with cellular-level resolution across macroscopic area coverage but also leverage the synergy among each material component integrated through novel assembly and manufacturing approaches. Fundamental studies of transient materials project new possibilities for applications in medicine and biomedical research. I will highlight these scientific and technological innovation pathways by describing several application examples, ranging from stimulators for accelerating tissue regeneration and wound healing, to sensors of intracranial temperature, pressure, oxygenation and electrophysiology for real-time optimization of pharmacological delivery schedules, surgical intervention procedures, and recovery/rehabilitation management routines.