Osseosurface electronics-thin, wireless, battery-free and multimodal musculoskeletal biointerfaces

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronic interfaces
• Biomedical engineering
• Materials science

Background:

• Recent advances in soft and ultrathin sensors enable interfacing with previously unexplored body parts.
• The musculoskeletal system remains understudied due to a lack of suitable bioelectronic tools.
• Bones offer advantages for chronic biointerfaces due to stable long-term bonding and impedance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new class of wireless, battery-free osseosurface electronics.
• To demonstrate the potential of these devices for monitoring and stimulating bone.
• To highlight their suitability for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of soft, ultrathin, wireless, battery-free osseosurface electronic devices.
• Direct adhesion of devices to bone surfaces using surface-engineered calcium phosphate ceramic particles.
• In vivo demonstration in freely-moving small and large animal models.

Main Results:

• Real-time recording of bone strain.
• Millikelvin resolution thermography of bone.
• Delivery of optical stimulation to bone.
• Demonstrated operation in deep tissue in large animal models.
• Smartphone-based readout capability.

Conclusions:

• Osseosurface electronics represent a novel platform for chronic biointerfaces on bone.
• The wireless, battery-free, and multimodal nature of these devices offers significant potential for research and clinical applications.
• These devices are suitable for exploratory research, diagnostics, and therapeutics in the musculoskeletal system.