Water-responsive supercontractile polymer films for bioelectronic interfaces

Junqi Yi, Guijin Zou, Jianping Huang, Xueyang Ren, Qiong Tian, Qianhengyuan Yu, Ping Wang, Yuehui Yuan, Wenjie Tang, Changxian Wang, Linlin Liang, Zhengshuai Cao, Yuanheng Li, Mei Yu, Ying Jiang, Feilong Zhang, Xue Yang, Wenlong Li, Xiaoshi Wang, Yifei Luo, Xian Jun Loh, Guanglin Li, Benhui Hu (), Zhiyuan Liu (), Huajian Gao () and Xiaodong Chen ()
Additional contact information
Junqi Yi: Nanyang Technological University
Guijin Zou: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Jianping Huang: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Xueyang Ren: Nanjing Medical University
Qiong Tian: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Qianhengyuan Yu: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Ping Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Yuehui Yuan: Nanjing Medical University
Wenjie Tang: Nanjing Medical University
Changxian Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Linlin Liang: Nanyang Technological University
Zhengshuai Cao: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Yuanheng Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Mei Yu: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Ying Jiang: Nanyang Technological University
Feilong Zhang: Nanyang Technological University
Xue Yang: Nanyang Technological University
Wenlong Li: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Xiaoshi Wang: Nanyang Technological University
Yifei Luo: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Xian Jun Loh: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Guanglin Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Benhui Hu: Nanjing Medical University
Zhiyuan Liu: CAS Key Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Human-Machine Intelligence-Synergy Systems
Huajian Gao: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Xiaodong Chen: Nanyang Technological University

Nature, 2023, vol. 624, issue 7991, 295-302

Abstract: Abstract Connecting different electronic devices is usually straightforward because they have paired, standardized interfaces, in which the shapes and sizes match each other perfectly. Tissue–electronics interfaces, however, cannot be standardized, because tissues are soft1–3 and have arbitrary shapes and sizes4–6. Shape-adaptive wrapping and covering around irregularly sized and shaped objects have been achieved using heat-shrink films because they can contract largely and rapidly when heated7. However, these materials are unsuitable for biological applications because they are usually much harder than tissues and contract at temperatures higher than 90 °C (refs. 8,9). Therefore, it is challenging to prepare stimuli-responsive films with large and rapid contractions for which the stimuli and mechanical properties are compatible with vulnerable tissues and electronic integration processes. Here, inspired by spider silk10–12, we designed water-responsive supercontractile polymer films composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ethylene glycol)-α-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, which are initially dry, flexible and stable under ambient conditions, contract by more than 50% of their original length within seconds (about 30% per second) after wetting and become soft (about 100 kPa) and stretchable (around 600%) hydrogel thin films thereafter. This supercontraction is attributed to the aligned microporous hierarchical structures of the films, which also facilitate electronic integration. We used this film to fabricate shape-adaptive electrode arrays that simplify the implantation procedure through supercontraction and conformally wrap around nerves, muscles and hearts of different sizes when wetted for in vivo nerve stimulation and electrophysiological signal recording. This study demonstrates that this water-responsive material can play an important part in shaping the next-generation tissue–electronics interfaces as well as broadening the biomedical application of shape-adaptive materials.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06732-y

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