Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs

The electrode, interfacing with soft tissue, is vulnerable to mechanical failure caused by dynamic organ motions such as cardiac activity, respiration, and digestion. Mechanical mismatch can also lead to tissue damage and sensor displacement. However, existing strategies for conformal integration of...

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Main Authors: Jaewon Kim, Kyung Su Kim, Seungbin Kim, Yong-seok Lee, Jahyun Koo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Nanotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1634033/full
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author Jaewon Kim
Jaewon Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Seungbin Kim
Yong-seok Lee
Jahyun Koo
Jahyun Koo
author_facet Jaewon Kim
Jaewon Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Seungbin Kim
Yong-seok Lee
Jahyun Koo
Jahyun Koo
author_sort Jaewon Kim
collection DOAJ
description The electrode, interfacing with soft tissue, is vulnerable to mechanical failure caused by dynamic organ motions such as cardiac activity, respiration, and digestion. Mechanical mismatch can also lead to tissue damage and sensor displacement. However, existing strategies for conformal integration often fall short of preserving mechanical compliance across large-area, multi-electrode arrays. Most internal organs undergo complex, anisotropic volumetric expansion from physiological activity, requiring implanted systems that can withstand multidirectional strains without inducing stress concentration. Conventional elastomers and mesh-structured electrodes typically exhibit a positive Poisson’s ratio, which hinders multidirectional uniform stretching and results in mechanical mismatch at the tissue–electrode interface. This mismatch not only increases local mechanical load but also leads to electrode displacement. In this study, we propose a conformal electrode design that incorporates a re-entrant geometry into a stretchable and biodegradable polyurethane substrate. Mechanical testing confirmed that this geometry enhances stretchability and reduces the effective modulus of the electrode by approximately 64%. Furthermore, the device maintained electrical stability under cyclic deformation and preserved its structural integrity under dynamic, organ-mimicking volumetric expansion. This mechanical and electrical robustness highlights the potential of the proposed design for long-term integration into implantable electrode arrays for physiological monitoring and disease diagnosis on dynamic three-dimensional organ motion.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c82fc6a99e4f483485fdb2b56f6739c32025-08-20T03:22:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nanotechnology2673-30132025-06-01710.3389/fnano.2025.16340331634033Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organsJaewon Kim0Jaewon Kim1Kyung Su Kim2Kyung Su Kim3Seungbin Kim4Yong-seok Lee5Jahyun Koo6Jahyun Koo7School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaInterdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaInterdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin-si, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin-si, Republic of KoreaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaInterdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of KoreaThe electrode, interfacing with soft tissue, is vulnerable to mechanical failure caused by dynamic organ motions such as cardiac activity, respiration, and digestion. Mechanical mismatch can also lead to tissue damage and sensor displacement. However, existing strategies for conformal integration often fall short of preserving mechanical compliance across large-area, multi-electrode arrays. Most internal organs undergo complex, anisotropic volumetric expansion from physiological activity, requiring implanted systems that can withstand multidirectional strains without inducing stress concentration. Conventional elastomers and mesh-structured electrodes typically exhibit a positive Poisson’s ratio, which hinders multidirectional uniform stretching and results in mechanical mismatch at the tissue–electrode interface. This mismatch not only increases local mechanical load but also leads to electrode displacement. In this study, we propose a conformal electrode design that incorporates a re-entrant geometry into a stretchable and biodegradable polyurethane substrate. Mechanical testing confirmed that this geometry enhances stretchability and reduces the effective modulus of the electrode by approximately 64%. Furthermore, the device maintained electrical stability under cyclic deformation and preserved its structural integrity under dynamic, organ-mimicking volumetric expansion. This mechanical and electrical robustness highlights the potential of the proposed design for long-term integration into implantable electrode arrays for physiological monitoring and disease diagnosis on dynamic three-dimensional organ motion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1634033/fullomnidirectional stretchabilitybiodegradablere-entrant structure3D spatial stabilityorgan-conformal interface
spellingShingle Jaewon Kim
Jaewon Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Kyung Su Kim
Seungbin Kim
Yong-seok Lee
Jahyun Koo
Jahyun Koo
Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
Frontiers in Nanotechnology
omnidirectional stretchability
biodegradable
re-entrant structure
3D spatial stability
organ-conformal interface
title Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
title_full Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
title_fullStr Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
title_full_unstemmed Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
title_short Omnidirectionally stretchable, biodegradable mesh electrode with re-entrant structure for spatial-stable functional position on dynamic organs
title_sort omnidirectionally stretchable biodegradable mesh electrode with re entrant structure for spatial stable functional position on dynamic organs
topic omnidirectional stretchability
biodegradable
re-entrant structure
3D spatial stability
organ-conformal interface
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnano.2025.1634033/full
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