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A Xerotic Skin-Compatible Neuromotor Electrode Interface for Non-Invasive Muscle Weakness Evaluation in
Yue Zhang1, Jie Cao1, Xinzhi Xu2
1State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems, Frontier Institute of Chip and System, College of Integrated Circuits and Micro-Nano Electronics, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|June 29, 2026
Summary
A new electrode interface enables accurate muscle weakness assessment in dermatomyositis patients using surface electromyography (sEMG). This non-invasive method overcomes challenges with dry skin, offering precise neuromotor biomarker analysis for personalized treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Wearable Sensors
Background:
- Dermatomyositis requires non-invasive, quantitative muscle weakness assessment.
- Surface electromyography (sEMG) offers potential but is limited by electrode interface instability on xerotic skin.
- Existing methods lack precision for evaluating subtle neuromuscular changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a conformable neuromotor electrode interface for high-fidelity sEMG acquisition in dermatomyositis patients.
- To enable robust decomposition of neuromotor biomarkers for quantitative muscle weakness assessment.
- To establish a platform for personalized treatment strategies beyond current clinical standards.
Main Methods:
- Development of a molecularly engineered, ultrasoft electrode interface with low impedance and long-term stability.
- Acquisition of sEMG signals from dermatomyositis patients using the novel interface.
- Decomposition of neuromotor biomarkers including motor unit count, action potential amplitude, and firing rate.
Main Results:
- The electrode interface demonstrated an ultrasoft modulus (∼ 2.13 kPa), low impedance (∼ 0.9 kΩ at 1 kHz), and stable performance over 7 days.
- High-fidelity sEMG was acquired from dermatomyositis patients with low baseline noise (< 2 µV RMS) and high inter-channel correlation.
- The multi-biomarker quantification showed strong agreement with gold standard assessments and detected subtle interpatient variations.
Conclusions:
- The developed electrode interface overcomes limitations of xerotic skin for sEMG acquisition in dermatomyositis.
- This platform enables precise, non-invasive quantification of muscle weakness through neuromotor biomarker decomposition.
- The approach offers a transformative tool for personalized treatment and improved evaluation of neuromuscular disorders.
