Ultra-conformal drawn-on-skin electronics for multifunctional motion artifact-free sensing and point-of-care treatment

TLDR

Accurate extraction of physiological signals from skin is essential for health monitoring, yet current wearable bioelectronics suffer motion artifacts because they lack strong adhesion and conformality. The study introduces ultra‑conformal, customizable drawn‑on‑skin electronics that achieve motion‑artifact resistance through strong adhesion and conformality. These inks are drawn on demand in a freeform fashion to fabricate transistors, strain, temperature, heater, hydration, and electrophysiological sensors. Electrophysiological monitoring during motion shows immunity to artifacts, and electrical stimulation via the devices accelerates skin wound healing.

Abstract

An accurate extraction of physiological and physical signals from human skin is crucial for health monitoring, disease prevention, and treatment. Recent advances in wearable bioelectronics directly embedded to the epidermal surface are a promising solution for future epidermal sensing. However, the existing wearable bioelectronics are susceptible to motion artifacts as they lack proper adhesion and conformal interfacing with the skin during motion. Here, we present ultra-conformal, customizable, and deformable drawn-on-skin electronics, which is robust to motion due to strong adhesion and ultra-conformality of the electronic inks drawn directly on skin. Electronic inks, including conductors, semiconductors, and dielectrics, are drawn on-demand in a freeform manner to develop devices, such as transistors, strain sensors, temperature sensors, heaters, skin hydration sensors, and electrophysiological sensors. Electrophysiological signal monitoring during motion shows drawn-on-skin electronics' immunity to motion artifacts. Additionally, electrical stimulation based on drawn-on-skin electronics demonstrates accelerated healing of skin wounds.