Fig. 6: Potential applications of the 3D printable tissue adhesive platform.

a Design of a 3D printed bioadhesive bioelectronic patch featuring an LED circuit. b Ex vivo demonstration of the bioelectronic patch adhered to a porcine heart. Application of a current through the ex vivo heart leads to illumination of the patch-mounted LEDs, demonstrating intimate electrode-tissue contact. c Design of a 3D printed mock drug (fluorescein)-loaded tissue adhesive patch. d Ex vivo demonstration of the fluorescein-loaded patch adhered to porcine skin. After removal of the adhered patch from the skin, fluorescence from the fluorescein released in the 3D printed spatial pattern can be observed. Cross-sectional micrographs show the diffusion of fluorescein from the patch into the skin over time. e Design of a tissue adhesive patch with fillable drug reservoirs. f Release of the mock drug (blue dye solution) into a gelatin hydrogel through 3D printed interfaces with differing pore size.