Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Highlight
  • Published:

Bioelectronics

An intimate transistor for tissue interfacing

Nature Reviews Bioengineering volume 1, page 692 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Bioelectronic devices, such as transistor-based biosensors, can measure biological signals in real time. To enable efficient data collection at the interface between a biological surface and an electronic device, stable and conformable contact between the tissue and transducer must be established to ensure effective electronic coupling. However, achieving a consistent and uninterrupted contact remains challenging, particularly for in vivo electrophysiological recordings on wet biological surfaces. In this case, the contact typically relies on bare capillary forces, stitches around the edges of the sensor or non-electrical glues.

“To design redox-active semiconducting polymers with bioadhesive properties, we formed a double polymer network morphology between the redox-active semiconducting polymer poly(3,3′-bis(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)-2,2′:5′,2′-terthiophene) [p(g2T-T)] and a newly designed brush bioadhesive polymer,” explains Wang. The brush component includes a hydrophilic side group (COOH-), which dries the surface by absorbing water when in contact with wet tissue, and ester-terminated side chains (NHS ester-) to promote adhesion. This co-polymer is characterized by robust and stretchable mechanical properties, as well as good biocompatibility for long-term implantation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

Original article

  • Li, N. et al. Bioadhesive polymer semiconductors and transistors for intimate biointerfaces. Science 381, 686–693 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Editor, Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering http://www.nature.com/natrevelectreng/

    Silvia Conti

Authors
  1. Silvia Conti
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silvia Conti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Conti, S. An intimate transistor for tissue interfacing. Nat Rev Bioeng 1, 692 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-023-00120-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-023-00120-x

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing