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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication
Published on: June 6, 2012
Tissue/Organ Adaptable Bioelectronic Silk-Based Implants
Ziyi Zhu1,2, Zhiwen Yan3,4, Siyuan Ni1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 865 Changning Rd., Shanghai, 200050, China.
Abstract:
Implantable bioelectronic devices, designed for both monitoring and modulating living organisms, require functional and biological adaptability. Pure silk is innovatively employed, which is known for its excellent biocompatibility, to engineer water-triggered, geometrically reconfigurable membranes, on which functions can be integrated by Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) techniques and specially functionalized silk. These devices can undergo programmed shape deformations within 10 min once triggered by water, and thus establishing stable bioelectronic interfaces with natively fitted geometries. As a testament to the applicability of this approach, a twining peripheral nerve electrode is designed, fabricated, and rigorously tested, demonstrating its efficacy in nerve modulation while ensuring biocompatibility for successful implantation.

