Topological supramolecular network enabled high-conductivity, stretchable organic bioelectronics

TLDR

Stretchable bioelectronics made from soft, conductive organics promise seamless, biocompatible interfaces, but achieving both high mechanical robustness and good electrical conduction at small feature sizes remains a challenge. The study aims to create a stretchable bioelectronic platform that simultaneously delivers high conductivity and mechanical robustness by engineering a topological supramolecular network. This is achieved by designing a supramolecular network that decouples competing effects from multiple molecular building blocks. The resulting devices exhibit high conductivity and crack‑onset strain in physiological conditions, can be photopatterned down to cellular scale, and enable stable electromyography and single‑nucleus neuromodulation in soft octopus tissue.

Abstract

Intrinsically stretchable bioelectronic devices based on soft and conducting organic materials have been regarded as the ideal interface for seamless and biocompatible integration with the human body. A remaining challenge is to combine high mechanical robustness with good electrical conduction, especially when patterned at small feature sizes. We develop a molecular engineering strategy based on a topological supramolecular network, which allows for the decoupling of competing effects from multiple molecular building blocks to meet complex requirements. We obtained simultaneously high conductivity and crack-onset strain in a physiological environment, with direct photopatternability down to the cellular scale. We further collected stable electromyography signals on soft and malleable octopus and performed localized neuromodulation down to single-nucleus precision for controlling organ-specific activities through the delicate brainstem.