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An Antidehydration Hydrogel Based on Zwitterionic Oligomers for Bioelectronic Interfacing.
Ke He1, Pingqiang Cai1, Shaobo Ji1
1Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck-NTU Joint Lab for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 29, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel hydrogel that prevents dehydration using zwitterionic oligomers, ensuring stable electronic signal acquisition for wearable devices without skin penetration. This offers a safer alternative to metal salts for on-skin healthcare applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrogels are crucial for on-skin healthcare devices but dehydrate easily.
- Metal salts improve hydrogel stability but pose toxicity risks due to skin penetration.
- Developing stable, safe hydrogel interfaces is essential for advanced wearable technology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an antidehydration hydrogel using zwitterionic oligomers for enhanced stability and safety in on-skin applications.
- To investigate the water retention capabilities and biocompatibility of the novel hydrogel.
- To assess the hydrogel's performance in electrophysiological monitoring under varying humidity conditions.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of zwitterionic oligomers into a hydrogel network.
- Evaluation of water retention under different humidity and temperature conditions.
- Assessment of oligomer skin penetration using experimental and molecular simulation techniques.
- Testing of hydrogel performance in electrophysiological monitoring.
Main Results:
- The hydrogel maintained approximately 88% of its weight after 50 days at 40% relative humidity and 25°C.
- The hydrogel retained about 84% of its weight after heating at 50°C for 3 hours.
- Molecular weight design of oligomers prevented epidermal penetration, confirmed by experiments and simulations.
- Stable electrophysiological signal acquisition was achieved in both human and plant monitoring under low humidity.
Conclusions:
- Zwitterionic oligomer-based hydrogels offer superior antidehydration properties for on-skin devices.
- The designed hydrogel is epidermis-safe and biocompatible, overcoming metal toxicity concerns.
- This technology enables reliable electrophysiological monitoring in diverse environmental conditions, advancing wearable healthcare solutions.
