Self-healing electrical bioadhesive interface for electrophysiology recording

Abstract

Electrical bioadhesive interfaces (EBIs) are standing out in various applications, including medical diagnostics, prosthetic devices, rehabilitation, and human–machine interactions. Nonetheless, crafting a reliable and advanced EBI with comprehensive properties spanning electrochemical, electrical, mechanical, and self-healing capabilities remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we develop a self-healing EBI by thoughtfully integrating conducting polymer nanofibers and a typical bioadhesive within a robust hydrogel matrix. The accomplished EBI demonstrates extraordinary adhesion (lap shear strength of 197 kPa), exceptional electrical conductivity (2.18 S m−1), and outstanding self-healing performance. Taking advantage of these attributes, we integrated the EBI into flexible skin electrodes for surface electromyography (sEMG) signal recording from forearm muscles. The engineered skin electrodes exhibit robust adhesion to the skin even when sweating, rapid self-healing from damage, and seamless real-time signal recording with a higher signal-to-noise ratio (39 dB). Our EBI, along with its skin electrodes, offers a promising platform for tissue-device integration, health monitoring, and an array of bioelectronic applications.