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Maurin V, Chang Y, Ze Q, Leanza S, Wang J, Zhao RR. Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Liquid Metal Composite: Ultrafast, Untethered, and Programmable Actuation by Induction Heating. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2302765. [PMID: 37656872 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a class of stimuli-responsive materials that have been intensively studied for applications including artificial muscles, shape morphing structures, and soft robotics due to their capability of large, programmable, and fully reversible actuation strains. To fully take advantage of LCEs, rapid, untethered, and programmable actuation methods are highly desirable. Here, a liquid crystal elastomer-liquid metal (LCE-LM) composite is reported, which enables ultrafast and programmable actuations by eddy current induction heating. The composite consists of LM sandwiched between two LCE layers printed via direct ink writing (DIW). When subjected to a high-frequency alternating magnetic field, the composite is actuated in milliseconds. By moving the magnetic field, the eddy current is spatially controlled for selective actuation. Additionally, sequential actuation is achievable by programming the LM thickness distribution in a sample. With these capabilities, the LCE-LM composite is further exploited for multimodal deformation of a pop-up structure, on-ground omnidirectional robotic motion, and in-water targeted object manipulation and crawling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Maurin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yilong Chang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Qiji Ze
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sophie Leanza
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ruike Renee Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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2
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Jain P, Kathuria H, Ramakrishna S, Parab S, Pandey MM, Dubey N. In Situ Bioprinting: Process, Bioinks, and Applications. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 38598256 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Traditional tissue engineering methods face challenges, such as fabrication, implantation of irregularly shaped scaffolds, and limited accessibility for immediate healthcare providers. In situ bioprinting, an alternate strategy, involves direct deposition of biomaterials, cells, and bioactive factors at the site, facilitating on-site fabrication of intricate tissue, which can offer a patient-specific personalized approach and align with the principles of precision medicine. It can be applied using a handled device and robotic arms to various tissues, including skin, bone, cartilage, muscle, and composite tissues. Bioinks, the critical components of bioprinting that support cell viability and tissue development, play a crucial role in the success of in situ bioprinting. This review discusses in situ bioprinting techniques, the materials used for bioinks, and their critical properties for successful applications. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future trends in accelerating in situ printing to translate this technology in a clinical settings for personalized regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Jain
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119805, Singapore
| | - Himanshu Kathuria
- Nusmetics Pte Ltd, E-Centre@Redhill, 3791 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159471, Singapore
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore
| | - Shraddha Parab
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan India, 333031
| | - Murali M Pandey
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan India, 333031
| | - Nileshkumar Dubey
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119805, Singapore
- ORCHIDS: Oral Care Health Innovations and Designs Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119805, Singapore
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3
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Kwon YW, Ahn DB, Park YG, Kim E, Lee DH, Kim SW, Lee KH, Kim WY, Hong YM, Koh CS, Jung HH, Chang JW, Lee SY, Park JU. Power-integrated, wireless neural recording systems on the cranium using a direct printing method for deep-brain analysis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3784. [PMID: 38569040 PMCID: PMC10990281 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Conventional power-integrated wireless neural recording devices suffer from bulky, rigid batteries in head-mounted configurations, hindering the precise interpretation of the subject's natural behaviors. These power sources also pose risks of material leakage and overheating. We present the direct printing of a power-integrated wireless neural recording system that seamlessly conforms to the cranium. A quasi-solid-state Zn-ion microbattery was 3D-printed as a built-in power source geometrically synchronized to the shape of a mouse skull. Soft deep-brain neural probes, interconnections, and auxiliary electronics were also printed using liquid metals on the cranium with high resolutions. In vivo studies using mice demonstrated the reliability and biocompatibility of this wireless neural recording system, enabling the monitoring of neural activities across extensive brain regions without notable heat generation. This all-printed neural interface system revolutionizes brain research, providing bio-conformable, customizable configurations for improved data quality and naturalistic experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Won Kwon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - David B. Ahn
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Geun Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Enji Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Ha Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Woo Kim
- Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwon-Hyung Lee
- Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Ulsan 44776, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Yeong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Mi Hong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Chin Su Koh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ho Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Young Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03772, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Ung Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program of Nano Biomedical Engineering (NanoBME), Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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4
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Zhu Y, Li J, Kim J, Li S, Zhao Y, Bahari J, Eliahoo P, Li G, Kawakita S, Haghniaz R, Gao X, Falcone N, Ermis M, Kang H, Liu H, Kim H, Tabish T, Yu H, Li B, Akbari M, Emaminejad S, Khademhosseini A. Skin-interfaced electronics: A promising and intelligent paradigm for personalized healthcare. Biomaterials 2023; 296:122075. [PMID: 36931103 PMCID: PMC10085866 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Skin-interfaced electronics (skintronics) have received considerable attention due to their thinness, skin-like mechanical softness, excellent conformability, and multifunctional integration. Current advancements in skintronics have enabled health monitoring and digital medicine. Particularly, skintronics offer a personalized platform for early-stage disease diagnosis and treatment. In this comprehensive review, we discuss (1) the state-of-the-art skintronic devices, (2) material selections and platform considerations of future skintronics toward intelligent healthcare, (3) device fabrication and system integrations of skintronics, (4) an overview of the skintronic platform for personalized healthcare applications, including biosensing as well as wound healing, sleep monitoring, the assessment of SARS-CoV-2, and the augmented reality-/virtual reality-enhanced human-machine interfaces, and (5) current challenges and future opportunities of skintronics and their potentials in clinical translation and commercialization. The field of skintronics will not only minimize physical and physiological mismatches with the skin but also shift the paradigm in intelligent and personalized healthcare and offer unprecedented promise to revolutionize conventional medical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhi Zhu
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States.
| | - Jinghang Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Jinjoo Kim
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Shaopei Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Yichao Zhao
- Interconnected and Integrated Bioelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Jamal Bahari
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Payam Eliahoo
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, United States
| | - Guanghui Li
- The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China; Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Satoru Kawakita
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Reihaneh Haghniaz
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Xiaoxiang Gao
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, United States
| | - Natashya Falcone
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Menekse Ermis
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States
| | - Heemin Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hao Liu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, PR China
| | - HanJun Kim
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States; College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Tanveer Tabish
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Haidong Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, PR China
| | - Bingbing Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States; Department of Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Management, California State University, Northridge, CA, 91330, United States
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States; Laboratory for Innovation in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 2C5, Canada
| | - Sam Emaminejad
- Interconnected and Integrated Bioelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, United States.
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5
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Ma J, Krisnadi F, Vong MH, Kong M, Awartani OM, Dickey MD. Shaping a Soft Future: Patterning Liquid Metals. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2205196. [PMID: 36044678 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202205196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This review highlights the unique techniques for patterning liquid metals containing gallium (e.g., eutectic gallium indium, EGaIn). These techniques are enabled by two unique attributes of these liquids relative to solid metals: 1) The fluidity of the metal allows it to be injected, sprayed, and generally dispensed. 2) The solid native oxide shell allows the metal to adhere to surfaces and be shaped in ways that would normally be prohibited due to surface tension. The ability to shape liquid metals into non-spherical structures such as wires, antennas, and electrodes can enable fluidic metallic conductors for stretchable electronics, soft robotics, e-skins, and wearables. The key properties of these metals with a focus on methods to pattern liquid metals into soft or stretchable devices are summari.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwoo Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Febby Krisnadi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Man Hou Vong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Minsik Kong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Omar M Awartani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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6
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Ping B, Zhou G, Zhang Z, Guo R. Liquid metal enabled conformal electronics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1118812. [PMID: 36815876 PMCID: PMC9935617 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1118812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of three-dimensional common electronics that can be directly pasted on arbitrary surfaces in the fields of human health monitoring, intelligent robots and wearable electronic devices has aroused people's interest, especially in achieving stable adhesion of electronic devices on biological dynamic three-dimensional interfaces and high-quality signal acquisition. In recent years, liquid metal (LM) materials have been widely used in the manufacture of flexible sensors and wearable electronic devices because of their excellent tensile properties and electrical conductivity at room temperature. In addition, LM has good biocompatibility and can be used in a variety of biomedical applications. Here, the recent development of LM flexible electronic printing methods for the fabrication of three-dimensional conformal electronic devices on the surface of human tissue is discussed. These printing methods attach LM to the deformable substrate in the form of bulk or micro-nano particles, so that electronic devices can adapt to the deformation of human tissue and other three-dimensional surfaces, and maintain stable electrical properties. Representative examples of applications such as self-healing devices, degradable devices, flexible hybrid electronic devices, variable stiffness devices and multi-layer large area circuits are reviewed. The current challenges and prospects for further development are also discussed.
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7
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Kim M, Lim H, Ko SH. Liquid Metal Patterning and Unique Properties for Next-Generation Soft Electronics. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205795. [PMID: 36642850 PMCID: PMC9951389 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Room-temperature liquid metal (LM)-based electronics is expected to bring advancements in future soft electronics owing to its conductivity, conformability, stretchability, and biocompatibility. However, various difficulties arise when patterning LM because of its rheological features such as fluidity and surface tension. Numerous attempts are made to overcome these difficulties, resulting in various LM-patterning methods. An appropriate choice of patterning method based on comprehensive understanding is necessary to fully utilize the unique properties. Therefore, the authors aim to provide thorough knowledge about patterning methods and unique properties for LM-based future soft electronics. First, essential considerations for LM-patterning are investigated. Then, LM-patterning methods-serial-patterning, parallel-patterning, intermetallic bond-assisted patterning, and molding/microfluidic injection-are categorized and investigated. Finally, perspectives on LM-based soft electronics with unique properties are provided. They include outstanding features of LM such as conformability, biocompatibility, permeability, restorability, and recyclability. Also, they include perspectives on future LM-based soft electronics in various areas such as radio frequency electronics, soft robots, and heterogeneous catalyst. LM-based soft devices are expected to permeate the daily lives if patterning methods and the aforementioned features are analyzed and utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwoo Kim
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
| | - Hyungjun Lim
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology77 Chungam‐ro, Nam‐guPohang37673South Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Ko
- Applied Nano and Thermal Science LabDepartment of Mechanical EngineeringSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
- Institute of Advanced Machinery and Design/Institute of Engineering ResearchSeoul National University1 Gwanak‐ro, Gwanak‐guSeoul08826South Korea
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8
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Yang B, Yang Z, Tang L. Recent progress in fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metal. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1178995. [PMID: 37187888 PMCID: PMC10175636 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1178995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft electronics can seamlessly integrate with the human skin which will greatly improve the quality of life in the fields of healthcare monitoring, disease treatment, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces. Currently, the stretchability of most soft electronics is achieved by incorporating stretchable conductors with elastic substrates. Among stretchable conductors, liquid metals stand out for their metal-grade conductivity, liquid-grade deformability, and relatively low cost. However, the elastic substrates usually composed of silicone rubber, polyurethane, and hydrogels have poor air permeability, and long-term exposure can cause skin redness and irritation. The substrates composed of fibers usually have excellent air permeability due to their high porosity, making them ideal substrates for soft electronics in long-term applications. Fibers can be woven directly into various shapes, or formed into various shapes on the mold by spinning techniques such as electrospinning. Here, we provide an overview of fiber-based soft electronics enabled by liquid metals. An introduction to the spinning technology is provided. Typical applications and patterning strategies of liquid metal are presented. We review the latest progress in the design and fabrication of representative liquid metal fibers and their application in soft electronics such as conductors, sensors, and energy harvesting. Finally, we discuss the challenges of fiber-based soft electronics and provide an outlook on future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Yang
- Fashion Accessory Art and Engineering College, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zihan Yang, ; Lixue Tang,
| | - Lixue Tang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Zihan Yang, ; Lixue Tang,
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9
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Choe M, Sin D, Bhuyan P, Lee S, Jeon H, Park S. Ultrasoft and Ultrastretchable Wearable Strain Sensors with Anisotropic Conductivity Enabled by Liquid Metal Fillers. MICROMACHINES 2022; 14:17. [PMID: 36677078 PMCID: PMC9862167 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Herein, ultrasoft and ultrastretchable wearable strain sensors enabled by liquid metal fillers in an elastic polymer are described. The wearable strain sensors that can change the effective resistance upon strains are prepared by mixing silicone elastomer with liquid metal (EGaIn, Eutectic gallium-indium alloy) fillers. While the silicone is mixed with the liquid metal by shear mixing, the liquid metal is rendered into small droplets stabilized by an oxide, resulting in a non-conductive liquid metal elastomer. To attain electrical conductivity, localized mechanical pressure is applied using a stylus onto the thermally cured elastomer, resulting in the formation of a handwritten conductive trace by rupturing the oxide layer of the liquid metal droplets and subsequent percolation. Although this approach has been introduced previously, the liquid metal dispersed elastomers developed here are compelling because of their ultra-stretchable (elongation at break of 4000%) and ultrasoft (Young’s modulus of <0.1 MPa) mechanical properties. The handwritten conductive trace in the elastomers can maintain metallic conductivity when strained; however, remarkably, we observed that the electrical conductivity is anisotropic upon parallel and perpendicular strains to the conductive trace. This anisotropic conductivity of the liquid metal elastomer film can manipulate the locomotion of a robot by routing the power signals between the battery and the driving motor of a robot upon parallel and perpendicular strains to the hand-written circuit. In addition, the liquid metal dispersed elastomers have a high degree of deformation and adhesion; thus, they are suitable for use as a wearable sensor for monitoring various body motions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjae Choe
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongho Sin
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Priyanuj Bhuyan
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongchan Jeon
- Sustainable Materials Research Team, Research & Development Division, Hyundai Motor Group, Uiwang 16082, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjune Park
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
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10
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Ding L, Hang C, Yang S, Qi J, Dong R, Zhang Y, Sun H, Jiang X. In Situ Deposition of Skin-Adhesive Liquid Metal Particles with Robust Wear Resistance for Epidermal Electronics. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:4482-4490. [PMID: 35580197 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Comfort and mechanical stability are vital for epidermal electronics in daily use. In situ deposition of circuitry without the protection of substrates or encapsulation can produce imperceptible, conformal, and permeable epidermal electronics. However, they are easily destroyed by daily wear because the binding force between deposited materials and skin is usually weak. Here, we in situ deposited skin-adhesive liquid metal particles (ALMP) to fabricate epidermal electronics with robust wear resistance. It represents the most wear-resistant in situ deposited epidermal electronic materials. It can withstand ∼1600 cm, 175 g loaded paper tape wearing by a standard abrasion wear tester. Stretchability, conformality, permeability, and thinness of the ALMP coating provide an imperceptible and comfortable wearing experience. Without degradation of electrical property caused by solvent evaporation, the dry ALMP coating possesses natural advantages over gel electrodes. In situ deposited ALMP is an ideal material for fabricating comfortable epidermal electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ding
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, P. R. China
| | - Chen Hang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Shuaijian Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Jie Qi
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Ruihua Dong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, P. R. China
| | - Hansong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 167 Beilishi Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100037, P. R. China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
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11
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Heng W, Solomon S, Gao W. Flexible Electronics and Devices as Human-Machine Interfaces for Medical Robotics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2107902. [PMID: 34897836 PMCID: PMC9035141 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Medical robots are invaluable players in non-pharmaceutical treatment of disabilities. Particularly, using prosthetic and rehabilitation devices with human-machine interfaces can greatly improve the quality of life for impaired patients. In recent years, flexible electronic interfaces and soft robotics have attracted tremendous attention in this field due to their high biocompatibility, functionality, conformability, and low-cost. Flexible human-machine interfaces on soft robotics will make a promising alternative to conventional rigid devices, which can potentially revolutionize the paradigm and future direction of medical robotics in terms of rehabilitation feedback and user experience. In this review, the fundamental components of the materials, structures, and mechanisms in flexible human-machine interfaces are summarized by recent and renowned applications in five primary areas: physical and chemical sensing, physiological recording, information processing and communication, soft robotic actuation, and feedback stimulation. This review further concludes by discussing the outlook and current challenges of these technologies as a human-machine interface in medical robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzheng Heng
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Samuel Solomon
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Wei Gao
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
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12
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Gao W, Wang Y, Wang Q, Ma G, Liu J. Liquid metal biomaterials for biomedical imaging. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:829-842. [PMID: 35048099 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02399c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Liquid metals (LMs) not only retain the basic properties of metallic biomaterials, such as high thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity, but also possess flexibility, flowability, deformability, plasticity, good adhesion, and so on. Therefore, they open many possibilities of extending soft metals into biomedical sciences including biomedical imaging. One of the special properties of LMs is that they can provide a controllable material system in which the electrical, thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties can be controlled on a large scale. This paper reviews the preparation and characteristics of LM-based biomaterials classified into four categories: LM micro/nanoparticles, surface modified LM droplets, LM composites with inorganic substances, and LM composites with organic polymers. Besides, considering the most important requirement for biomaterials is biocompatibility, the paper also analyzes the toxicity results of various LM biomaterials when used in the biomedical area, from different levels including body weight measurement, histology evaluation, and blood biochemistry tests. Next, the applications of LMs in X-ray, CT, MRI, photoacoustic imaging, and molecular imaging are introduced in detail. And finally, the challenges and opportunities of their application in medical imaging are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Gao
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. .,Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yige Wang
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China. .,Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guolin Ma
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. .,School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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13
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Direct Laser Interference Ink Printing Using Copper Metal–Organic Decomposition Ink for Nanofabrication. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12030387. [PMID: 35159733 PMCID: PMC8838969 DOI: 10.3390/nano12030387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we developed an effective and rapid process for nanoscale ink printing, direct laser interference ink printing (DLIIP), which involves the photothermal reaction of a copper-based metal–organic decomposition ink. A periodically lined copper pattern with a width of 500 nm was printed on a 240 μm-wide line at a fabrication speed of 17 mm/s under an ambient environment and without any pre- or post-processing steps. This pattern had a resistivity of 3.5 μΩ∙cm, and it was found to exhibit a low oxidation state that was twice as high as that of bulk copper. These results demonstrate the feasibility of DLIIP for nanoscale copper printing with fine electrical characteristics.
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14
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Neumann TV, Kara B, Sargolzaeiaval Y, Im S, Ma J, Yang J, Ozturk MC, Dickey MD. Aerosol Spray Deposition of Liquid Metal and Elastomer Coatings for Rapid Processing of Stretchable Electronics. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:146. [PMID: 33535606 PMCID: PMC7912875 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We report a spray deposition technique for patterning liquid metal alloys to form stretchable conductors, which can then be encapsulated in silicone elastomers via the same spraying procedure. While spraying has been used previously to deposit many materials, including liquid metals, this work focuses on quantifying the spraying process and combining it with silicones. Spraying generates liquid metal microparticles (~5 μm diameter) that pass through openings in a stencil to produce traces with high resolution (~300 µm resolution using stencils from a craft cutter) on a substrate. The spraying produces sufficient kinetic energy (~14 m/s) to distort the particles on impact, which allows them to merge together. This merging process depends on both particle size and velocity. Particles of similar size do not merge when cast as a film. Likewise, smaller particles (<1 µm) moving at the same speed do not rupture on impact either, though calculations suggest that such particles could rupture at higher velocities. The liquid metal features can be encased by spraying uncured silicone elastomer from a volatile solvent to form a conformal coating that does not disrupt the liquid metal features during spraying. Alternating layers of liquid metal and elastomer may be patterned sequentially to build multilayer devices, such as soft and stretchable sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor V. Neumann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (T.V.N.); (S.I.); (J.M.); (J.Y.)
| | - Berra Kara
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (B.K.); (Y.S.); (M.C.O.)
| | - Yasaman Sargolzaeiaval
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (B.K.); (Y.S.); (M.C.O.)
| | - Sooik Im
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (T.V.N.); (S.I.); (J.M.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jinwoo Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (T.V.N.); (S.I.); (J.M.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jiayi Yang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (T.V.N.); (S.I.); (J.M.); (J.Y.)
| | - Mehmet C. Ozturk
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (B.K.); (Y.S.); (M.C.O.)
| | - Michael D. Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (T.V.N.); (S.I.); (J.M.); (J.Y.)
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15
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Tang L, Shang J, Jiang X. Multilayered electronic transfer tattoo that can enable the crease amplification effect. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/3/eabe3778. [PMID: 33523888 PMCID: PMC7806229 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe3778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Electronic tattoos have great potential in health and movement sensing applications on the skin. However, existing electronic tattoos cannot be conformal, sticky, and multilayered at the same time. Here, we have achieved multilayered integration of the electronic tattoo that is highly stretchable (800%), conformal, and sticky. This electronic tattoo can enable the crease amplification effect, which can amplify the output signal of integrated strain sensors by three times. The tattoo can be transferred to different surfaces and form a firm attachment, where no solvent or heat is needed. The tattoo fabrication is straightforward and scalable; a layer-by-layer strategy and two materials (metal-polymer conductors and the elastomeric block copolymer) are used to fabricate the circuit module with desirable numbers of layers within the tattoo. A three-layered tattoo integrating 1 heater and 15 strain sensors is developed for temperature adjustment, movement monitoring, and remote control of robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixue Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Southern University of Science and Technology, No 1088, Xueyuan Rd., Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, No.10 Xitoutiao, You An Men Wai, Beijing 100069, P. R. China
| | - Jin Shang
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 11 Zhongguancun Beiyitiao, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Southern University of Science and Technology, No 1088, Xueyuan Rd., Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China.
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16
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Wu H, Yang G, Zhu K, Liu S, Guo W, Jiang Z, Li Z. Materials, Devices, and Systems of On-Skin Electrodes for Electrophysiological Monitoring and Human-Machine Interfaces. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2001938. [PMID: 33511003 PMCID: PMC7816724 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202001938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
On-skin electrodes function as an ideal platform for collecting high-quality electrophysiological (EP) signals due to their unique characteristics, such as stretchability, conformal interfaces with skin, biocompatibility, and wearable comfort. The past decade has witnessed great advancements in performance optimization and function extension of on-skin electrodes. With continuous development and great promise for practical applications, on-skin electrodes are playing an increasingly important role in EP monitoring and human-machine interfaces (HMI). In this review, the latest progress in the development of on-skin electrodes and their integrated system is summarized. Desirable features of on-skin electrodes are briefly discussed from the perspective of performances. Then, recent advances in the development of electrode materials, followed by the analysis of strategies and methods to enhance adhesion and breathability of on-skin electrodes are examined. In addition, representative integrated electrode systems and practical applications of on-skin electrodes in healthcare monitoring and HMI are introduced in detail. It is concluded with the discussion of key challenges and opportunities for on-skin electrodes and their integrated systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Flexible Electronics Research CenterState Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430074China
| | - Ganguang Yang
- Flexible Electronics Research CenterState Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430074China
| | - Kanhao Zhu
- Flexible Electronics Research CenterState Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430074China
| | - Shaoyu Liu
- Flexible Electronics Research CenterState Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430074China
| | - Wei Guo
- Flexible Electronics Research CenterState Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologySchool of Mechanical Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanHubei430074China
| | - Zhuo Jiang
- Department of Materials ScienceFudan UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Zhuo Li
- Department of Materials ScienceFudan UniversityShanghai200433China
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17
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Chen D, Liu Z, Li Y, Sun D, Liu X, Pang J, Liu H, Zhou W. Unsymmetrical Alveolate PMMA/MWCNT Film as a Piezoresistive E-Skin with Four-Dimensional Resolution and Application for Detecting Motion Direction and Airflow Rate. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:30896-30904. [PMID: 32515937 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c02640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Flexible and piezoresistive electronic skins (E-skins) with high spatial resolution are highly desired in artificial intelligence and human-machine interactions. In this study, a simple method is developed to pattern a piezoresistive layer using lithography, which can realize real-time tactile sensing and spatial resolution. The piezoresistive layer with a honeycomb hole array based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was fabricated using a reverse mold with a ZnO nanorod array. The device exhibits an ultrahigh sensitivity of 88 kPa-1 in the low-pressure regime (<10 kPa) and a fast response time of 110 ms owing to the conductive honeycomb structure. The E-skin-based PMMA/MWCNT honeycomb array film can be applied to monitor bending and vibration by changing the contact area of the hole walls. A 4 × 4 piezoresistive matrix was fabricated by lithography for a 16-pixel tactile-sensing E-skin, which realizes a four-dimensional resolution including the space and time resolutions of pressure points. In addition, by using the unsymmetrical structure of an alveolate PMMA/MWCNT film, the detection of direction and velocity for the movement and gas flow were realized. The obtained piezoresistive and unsymmetrical tactile sensor realized a four-dimensional resolution, including a three-dimensional space and a fourth dimension of timeline, which enables future applications of human-machine interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Information Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China
| | - Dehui Sun
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Jinbo Pang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
| | - Hong Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Weijia Zhou
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Equipment for Biological Diagnosis and Therapy in Universities of Shandong, Institute for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research (iAIR), University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, P. R. China
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18
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Kumar N, Wirekoh J, Saba S, Riviere CN, Park YL. Soft Miniaturized Actuation and Sensing Units for Dynamic Force Control of Cardiac Ablation Catheters. Soft Robot 2020; 8:59-70. [PMID: 32392453 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2019.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been active research in finding robotized solutions for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) by augmenting catheter systems through the integration of force sensors at the tip. However, limited research has been aimed at providing automatic force control by also integrating actuation of the catheter tip, which can significantly enhance safety in such procedures. This article solves the demanding challenge of miniaturizing both actuation and sensing for integration into flexible catheters. Fabrication strategies are presented for a series of novel soft thick-walled cylindrical actuators, with embedded sensing using eutectic gallium-indium. The functional catheter tips have a diameter in the range of 2.6-3.6 mm and can both generate and detect forces in the range of < 0.4 N, with a bandwidth of 1-2 Hz. The deformation modeling of thick-walled cylinders with fiber reinforcement is presented in the article. An experimental setup developed for static and dynamic characterization of these units is presented. The prototyped units were validated with respect to the design specifications. The preliminary force control results indicate that these units can be used in tracking and control of contact force, which has the potential to make AF procedures much safer and more accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Kumar
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Samir Saba
- Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cameron N Riviere
- Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yong-Lae Park
- Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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Guo R, Yao S, Sun X, Liu J. An Improved Liquid Metal Mask Printing enabled Fast Fabrication of Wearable Electronics on Fabrics .. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:1761-1764. [PMID: 31946238 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, a new improved mask printing method of liquid metal is developed, which realizes the fast fabrication of flexible electronics on fabrics. Here, polymethacrylates (PMA) glue is printed on fabrics to improve the adhesion effect of liquid metal (EGaIn) on fabrics. Combined with mask printing, liquid metal can be directly and rapidly printed on the fabrics with PMA glue to manufacture flexible electronics, such as LED array circuit, strain sensor and temperature monitoring circuit. With combined the advantages of favorable stretchability and rapid manufacture, the improved liquid metal mask printing method provides an approach with valuable prospects for individualized wearable health care devices. Besides, this method has extensive application prospect in mass production of smart electronic fabrics.
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Abstract
Patterned conformal conductive structures are used to realize flexible electronics for applications such as electronic skin, communication devices, and sensors. Thus, there is a demand for low-cost rapid fabrication techniques for flexible and stretchable conductors. Spray-coating of liquid metals is a prototyping method that is compatible with elastic substrates. In this work, UV-curable and polyimide masks were used to pattern sprayed liquid metal (LM). The effect of the spraying parameters on the thickness and conductivity of the LM was characterized. A minimum LM linewidth of 48 µm was achieved, along with a minimum gap width of 34 µm. A LM patch antenna and transmission line, which can potentially be used for communication systems, were demonstrated using this fabrication process.
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Zhang Z, Gao Z, Wang Y, Guo L, Yin C, Zhang X, Hao J, Zhang G, Chen L. Eco-Friendly, Self-Healing Hydrogels for Adhesive and Elastic Strain Sensors, Circuit Repairing, and Flexible Electronic Devices. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Guimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine & National Engineering and Technology Research Center of Chirality Pharmaceuticals, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi 276000, P. R. China
| | - Lusheng Chen
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, P. R. China
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Tong S, Sun J, Yang J. Printed Thin-Film Transistors: Research from China. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:25902-25924. [PMID: 29494132 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b16413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Thin-film transistors (TFTs) have experienced tremendous development during the past decades and show great promising applications in flat displays, sensors, radio frequency identification tags, logic circuit, and so on. The printed TFTs are the key components for rapid development and commercialization of printed electronics. The researchers in China play important roles to accelerate the development and commercialization of printed TFTs. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the research progress of printed TFTs on rigid and flexible substrates from China. The review will focus on printing techniques of TFTs, printed TFT components including semiconductors, dielectrics and electrodes, as well as fully printed TFTs and printed flexible TFTs. Furthermore, perspectives on the remaining challenges and future developments are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sichao Tong
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics , Central South University , Changsha 410083 , Hunan , China
| | - Jia Sun
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics , Central South University , Changsha 410083 , Hunan , China
| | - Junliang Yang
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Super-microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics , Central South University , Changsha 410083 , Hunan , China
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23
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Wang X, Ren Y, Liu J. Liquid Metal Enabled Electrobiology: A New Frontier to Tackle Disease Challenges. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:E360. [PMID: 30424293 PMCID: PMC6082282 DOI: 10.3390/mi9070360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In this article, a new conceptual biomedical engineering strategy to tackle modern disease challenges, called liquid metal (LM) enabled electrobiology, is proposed. This generalized and simple method is based on the physiological fact that specially administrated electricity induces a series of subsequent desired biological effects, either shortly, transitionally, or permanently. Due to high compliance within biological tissues, LM would help mold a pervasive method for treating physiological or psychological diseases. As highly conductive and non-toxic multifunctional flexible materials, such LMs can generate any requested electric treating fields (ETFields), which can adapt to various sites inside the human body. The basic mechanisms of electrobiology in delivering electricity to the target tissues and then inducing expected outputs for disease treatment are interpreted. The methods for realizing soft and conformable electronics based on LM are illustrated. Furthermore, a group of typical disease challenges are observed to illustrate the basic strategies for performing LM electrobiology therapy, which include but are not limited to: tissue electronics, brain disorder, immunotherapy, neural functional recovery, muscle stimulation, skin rejuvenation, cosmetology and dieting, artificial organs, cardiac pacing, cancer therapy, etc. Some practical issues regarding electrobiology for future disease therapy are discussed. Perspectives in this direction for incubating a simple biomedical tool for health care are pointed out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yi Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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Wang X, Guo R, Yuan B, Yao Y, Wang F, Liu J. Ni-doped Liquid Metal Printed Highly Stretchable and Conformable Strain Sensor for Multifunctional Human-Motion Monitoring. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2018; 2018:3276-3279. [PMID: 30441091 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2018.8513060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A highly stretchable and conformable strain sensor fabricated by Ni-doped liquid metal (Ni-GaIn) is designed to record and reconstruct human motion at elbow, knee, heel and even fingers to realize multifunctional human-activity monitoring. The new electronic ink of Ni-GaIn is directly and rapidly printed onto luminous soft substrate to manufacture strain sensor with excellent stretchable and stable electrical properties. Composed of the Ni-GaIn sensors, multifunctional sensor system is demonstrated to work well as human-machine interface, which integrates various functions including measurement and reconstruction. This sensor system provides potential applications for quantifying human motion and is also critical for personal healthcare, prosthetic control and soft robotics in the near future.
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Wang X, Yao W, Guo R, Yang X, Tang J, Zhang J, Gao W, Timchenko V, Liu J. Soft and Moldable Mg-Doped Liquid Metal for Conformable Skin Tumor Photothermal Therapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1800318. [PMID: 29717822 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201800318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
As a class of emerging multifunctional soft materials, gallium-based liquid metal (LM) amalgams, metal/nonmetal particles dispersed in an LM environment, suggest a combination of intriguing properties. In this article, Mg particles in gallium-indium alloy for making new conceptual biomedical materials, which can adapt to any irregular skin surface, are introduced, and superior photothermal effect with a 61.5% photothermal conversion (PTC) increase with respect to that of the LM is realized. The formation of a new intermetallic phase Mg2 Ga5 and adjustable surface roughness, which guarantees a rapid temperature increase when illuminated by laser, are found to be responsible for the photothermal effect enhancement. The obtained soft metallic mixtures also possess excellent thermal conductivity, favorable formability, together with benign biocompatibility. The potential use of the currently produced LM mixtures for conformable photothermal therapy (PTT) of skin tumors, which is hard to precisely heat otherwise via conventional ways, is explored. The soft Mg-GaIn mixtures can adapt to irregular tumor shapes to achieve conformable and minimal invasive tumor treatment. In vivo experiments on skin-tumor-bearing mice show obvious tumor growth suppression and life span extension after PTT treatment. As a novel functional PTC material, the Mg-GaIn mixtures exhibit promising potentials in the coming clinical cancer theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Wenhao Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Xiaohu Yang
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics; Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100190 China
| | - Jianbo Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Weiping Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
| | - Victoria Timchenko
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of New South Wales; UNSW Sydney; NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; School of Medicine; Tsinghua University; Beijing 100084 China
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics; Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100190 China
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Handschuh-Wang S, Chen Y, Zhu L, Zhou X. Analysis and Transformations of Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Interfaces - A Closer Look through Interfacial Tension. Chemphyschem 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201800129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Handschuh-Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering; Shenzhen University; Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Yuzhen Chen
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering; Shenzhen University; Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Lifei Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering; Shenzhen University; Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
| | - Xuechang Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering; Shenzhen University; Shenzhen 518060 P. R. China
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27
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Koman VB, Lew TTS, Wong MH, Kwak SY, Giraldo JP, Strano MS. Persistent drought monitoring using a microfluidic-printed electro-mechanical sensor of stomata in planta. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:4015-4024. [PMID: 29116279 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00930e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Stomatal function can be used effectively to monitor plant hydraulics, photosensitivity, and gas exchange. Current approaches to measure single stomatal aperture, such as mold casting or fluorometric techniques, do not allow real time or persistent monitoring of the stomatal function over timescales relevant for long term plant physiological processes, including vegetative growth and abiotic stress. Herein, we utilize a nanoparticle-based conducting ink that preserves stomatal function to print a highly stable, electrical conductometric sensor actuated by the stomata pore itself, repeatedly and reversibly for over 1 week. This stomatal electro-mechanical pore size sensor (SEMPSS) allows for real-time tracking of the latency of single stomatal opening and closing times in planta, which we show vary from 7.0 ± 0.5 to 25.0 ± 0.5 min for the former and from 53.0 ± 0.5 to 45.0 ± 0.5 min for the latter in Spathiphyllum wallisii. These values are shown to correlate with the soil water potential and the onset of the wilting response, in quantitative agreement with a dynamic mathematical model of stomatal function. A single stoma of Spathiphyllum wallisii is shown to distinguish between incident light intensities (up to 12 mW cm-2) with temporal latency slow as 7.0 ± 0.5 min. Over a seven day period, the latency in opening and closing times are stable throughout the plant diurnal cycle and increase gradually with the onset of drought. The monitoring of stomatal function over long term timescales at single stoma level will improve our understanding of plant physiological responses to environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr B Koman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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28
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Li J, Guo C, Wang Z, Gao K, Shi X, Liu J. Electrical stimulation towards melanoma therapy via liquid metal printed electronics on skin. Clin Transl Med 2016; 5:21. [PMID: 27339426 PMCID: PMC4919201 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-016-0102-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We proposed a method of using electrical stimulation for treatment of malignant melanoma through directly spray-printing liquid metal on skin as soft electrodes to deliver low intensity, intermediate frequency electric fields. METHODS With patterned conductive liquid metal components on mice skin and under assistance of a signal generator, a sine wave electrical power with voltage of 5 V and 300 kHz could be administrated on treating malignant melanoma tumor. FINDINGS The experiments demonstrated that tumor volume was significantly reduced compared with that of the control group. Under the designed parameters (signal: sine wave, signal amplitude Vpp: 5 V and Vpp: 4 V, frequency: 300 kHz) of Tumor treating fields (TTFields) with the sprayed liquid metal electrode, four mice tumor groups became diminishing after 1 week of treatment. The only device-related side effect as seen was a mild to moderate contact dermatitis underneath the field delivering electrodes. The SEM images and pathological analysis demonstrated the targeted treating behavior of the malignant melanoma tumor. Further, thermal infrared imaging experiments indicated that there occur no evident heating effects in the course of treatment. Besides, the liquid metal is easy to remove through medical alcohol. CONCLUSIONS Tumor treating fields through liquid metal electrode could offer a safe, straightforward and effective treatment modality which evidently slows down tumor growth in vivo. These promising results also raised the possibility of applying spray-printing TTFields as an easy going physical way for future cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- />Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 People’s Republic of China
| | - Cangran Guo
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhongshuai Wang
- />Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 People’s Republic of China
| | - Kai Gao
- />Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xudong Shi
- />Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Liu
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 People’s Republic of China
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29
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Wang X, Liu J. Recent Advancements in Liquid Metal Flexible Printed Electronics: Properties, Technologies, and Applications. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E206. [PMID: 30404387 PMCID: PMC6189762 DOI: 10.3390/mi7120206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This article presents an overview on typical properties, technologies, and applications of liquid metal based flexible printed electronics. The core manufacturing material-room-temperature liquid metal, currently mainly represented by gallium and its alloys with the properties of excellent resistivity, enormous bendability, low adhesion, and large surface tension, was focused on in particular. In addition, a series of recently developed printing technologies spanning from personal electronic circuit printing (direct painting or writing, mechanical system printing, mask layer based printing, high-resolution nanoimprinting, etc.) to 3D room temperature liquid metal printing is comprehensively reviewed. Applications of these planar or three-dimensional printing technologies and the related liquid metal alloy inks in making flexible electronics, such as electronical components, health care sensors, and other functional devices were discussed. The significantly different adhesions of liquid metal inks on various substrates under different oxidation degrees, weakness of circuits, difficulty of fabricating high-accuracy devices, and low rate of good product-all of which are challenges faced by current liquid metal flexible printed electronics-are discussed. Prospects for liquid metal flexible printed electronics to develop ending user electronics and more extensive applications in the future are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Beijing Key Lab of CryoBiomedical Engineering and Key Lab of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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30
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Jeong DW, Jang NS, Kim KH, Kim JM. A stretchable sensor platform based on simple and scalable lift-off micropatterning of metal nanowire network. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra15385b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a simple, precise and scalable micropatterning approach of conductive nanomaterials (CNs) based on a synergetic combination of lift-off process and wet coating of CNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Wook Jeong
- Department of Nano Fusion Technology
- BK21 Plus Nano Convergence Technology Division
- Pusan National University
- Busan 46214
- Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Su Jang
- Department of Nano Fusion Technology
- BK21 Plus Nano Convergence Technology Division
- Pusan National University
- Busan 46214
- Republic of Korea
| | - Kang-Hyun Kim
- Department of Nano Fusion Technology
- BK21 Plus Nano Convergence Technology Division
- Pusan National University
- Busan 46214
- Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Man Kim
- Department of Nano Fusion Technology
- BK21 Plus Nano Convergence Technology Division
- Pusan National University
- Busan 46214
- Republic of Korea
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31
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Wang X, Dong L, Zhang H, Yu R, Pan C, Wang ZL. Recent Progress in Electronic Skin. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2015; 2:1500169. [PMID: 27980911 PMCID: PMC5115318 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201500169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and can sense pressure, temperature, and other complex environmental stimuli or conditions. The mimicry of human skin's sensory ability via electronics is a topic of innovative research that could find broad applications in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-machine interfaces, all of which promote the development of electronic skin (e-skin). To imitate tactile sensing via e-skins, flexible and stretchable pressure sensor arrays are constructed based on different transduction mechanisms and structural designs. These arrays can map pressure with high resolution and rapid response beyond that of human perception. Multi-modal force sensing, temperature, and humidity detection, as well as self-healing abilities are also exploited for multi-functional e-skins. Other recent progress in this field includes the integration with high-density flexible circuits for signal processing, the combination with wireless technology for convenient sensing and energy/data transfer, and the development of self-powered e-skins. Future opportunities lie in the fabrication of highly intelligent e-skins that can sense and respond to variations in the external environment. The rapidly increasing innovations in this area will be important to the scientific community and to the future of human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiandi Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 P. R. China
| | - Lin Dong
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 P. R. China
| | - Hanlu Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 P. R. China
| | - Ruomeng Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332-0245 USA
| | - Caofeng Pan
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 P. R. China
| | - Zhong Lin Wang
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100083 P. R. China; School of Materials Science and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332-0245 USA
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