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Published on: August 29, 2025
Biofunctionalized polymer semiconductors toward soft and stretchable transistor-based biosensors.
Chuanzhen Zhao1, Qianhe Liu1, Jia-Yuan Chang1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Science Advances
|June 5, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to add biomolecules to stretchable polymer semiconductors (PSCs). This allows for highly sensitive wearable biosensors capable of detecting cortisol at picomolar levels.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Organic materials with tunable properties are crucial for biomedical applications.
- Polymer semiconductors (PSCs) offer skin-like mechanics but lack biofunctionalization for biosensing.
- Existing methods limit the integration of biomolecules into PSCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a direct biofunctionalization strategy for PSCs.
- To create stretchable, skin-like biosensors with enhanced sensitivity.
- To enable high-resolution patterning of biomolecules on PSCs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized thiol-ene chemistry for selective grafting of thiolated biomolecules (e.g., aptamers) onto elastomeric domains within PSCs.
- Fabricated electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors with biofunctionalized channels.
- Tested device stability in physiological buffers and performance under strain.
Main Results:
- Achieved high-resolution patterning down to 10 micrometers while preserving electronic performance.
- Demonstrated stable device operation in physiological buffers for over 50 days.
- Maintained device performance under up to 50% strain.
- Achieved sensitive cortisol detection in the picomolar range using aptamer-functionalized sensors.
Conclusions:
- Established a direct biofunctionalization strategy for PSCs using thiol-ene chemistry.
- Developed stable, stretchable, and highly sensitive wearable biosensors.
- Paved the way for integrating biofunctional PSCs into advanced skin-like wearable devices.
