Electroconductive, Adhesive, Non‐Swelling, and Viscoelastic Hydrogels for Bioelectronics

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202203431
• Publication Date: 2022-07-11T13:44:56Z
• Authors: Im Kyung Han; Kang‐Il Song; Sang‐Mun Jung; Yeonggwon Jo; Jaesub Kwon; Taehun Chung; Surim Yoo; Jinah Jang; Yong‐Tae Kim; Dong Soo Hwang; Youn Soo Kim
• Keywords: Bioelectronics; Biocompatibility

As a new class of materials, implantable flexible electrical conductors have recently been developed and applied to bioelectronics. An ideal conductor requires high conductivity, tissue-like mechanical properties, low toxicity, reliable adhesion biological tissues, the ability maintain its shape in wet physiological environments. Despite significant advances, that satisfy all these requirements are insufficient. Herein, facile method for manufacturing conductive hydrogels through simultaneous exfoliation graphite polymerization zwitterionic monomers triggered by microwave irradiation is introduced. The properties obtained hydrogel similar those living tissue, which as bionic adhesive minimizing contact damage due mismatches between hard electronics soft tissues. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent performance, non-swelling, conformability water. Excellent biocompatibility confirmed cytotoxicity test using C2C12 cells, on rat their histological analysis. then implanted into sciatic nerve neuromodulation demonstrated low-current stimulation. This demonstrates extraneuronal electrode, possesses improve tissue-electronics interfaces, promising next-generation bioelectronics applications.