Atomically Thin Boundary Between Wearable and Implantable Bioelectronic Interfaces

Modern biosensors reveal a notable trend toward mobile and personalized health monitoring. Monitoring health-related electrophysiological signals, such as brain activity, heart activity, body hydration, or temperature, is essential for better comprehension of human physiology. Continuous long-term monitoring of those signals from individuals of different health conditions is essential to understanding systematic health risk factors and building preventative care solutions, which is paramount for intricate conditions like cardiovascular. However, modern wearable and implantable technologies require substantial improvement in terms of their ability to interact with the tissue without causing harmful consequences. In this work, we report on a substantial advancement of graphene electronic tattoos and use them for bioelectronic applications on the wearable and implantable fronts.<br/>In a groundbreaking advancement in healthcare technology, we have harnessed the power of graphene to create wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices that revolutionize health monitoring and treatment. Using atomically thin and electrically conductive graphene electronic tattoos (GETs), we developed imperceptible monitoring technologies for measuring blood pressure with Grade-A accuracy. Unlike other wearables, GETs are lightweight and skin-conformable, eliminating discomfort during long-term measurements.<br/>Recently, we also translated this technology into implantable sensors, demonstrating the sensing and stimulation of the mammalian heart, including treatment of arrhythmia with graphene pacemakers. The arrays show superior electrochemical properties, and the transparency of the graphene structures allows for simultaneous optical mapping of cardiac action potentials and optogenetic stimulation. Additionally, we advanced in creating tissue-integratable bioelectronic systems resembling biological neurons using soft, flexible, and biocompatible artificial synaptic transistors based on graphene and Nafion, boasting superior energy efficiency. These breakthroughs open up new possibilities for wearable and implantable graphene bioelectronics to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes.