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  • A skin-inspired, capacitive array for tactile modulus detection via a scalable rigid-island architecture NPJ FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS Berman, A., Shi, B., Zaluska, T., Yong, A., Clees, S., Xu, C., Beker, L., Bao, Z. 2025; 10 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41528-025-00503-7

    View details for Web of Science ID 001655814300001

  • High-density soft bioelectronic fibres for multimodal sensing and stimulation. Nature Khatib, M., Zhao, E. T., Wei, S., Park, J., Abramson, A., Bishop, E. S., Thomas, A. L., Chen, C. H., Emengo, P., Xu, C., Hamnett, R., Root, S. E., Yuan, L., Wurdack, M. J., Zaluska, T., Lee, Y., Parkatzidis, K., Yu, W., Chakhtoura, D., Kim, K. K., Zhong, D., Nishio, Y., Zhao, C., Wu, C., Jiang, Y., Zhang, A., Li, J., Wang, W., Salimi-Jazi, F., Rafeeqi, T. A., Hemed, N. M., Tok, J. B., Qian, X., Chen, X., Kaltschmidt, J. A., Dunn, J. C., Bao, Z. 2025; 645 (8081): 656-664

    Abstract

    There is an increasing demand for multimodal sensing and stimulation bioelectronic fibres for both research and clinical applications1,2. However, existing fibres suffer from high rigidity, low component layout precision, limited functionality and low density of active components. These limitations arise from the challenge of integrating many components into one-dimensional fibre devices, especially owing to the incompatibility of conventional microfabrication methods (for example, photolithography) with curved, thin and long fibre structures2. As a result, limited applications have been demonstrated so far. Here we use 'spiral transformation' to convert two-dimensional thin films containing microfabricated devices into one-dimensional soft fibres. This approach allows for the fabrication of high-density multimodal soft bioelectronic fibres, termed Spiral-NeuroString (S-NeuroString), while enabling precise control on the longitudinal, angular and radial positioning and distribution of the functional components. Taking advantage of the biocompatibility of our soft fibres with the dynamic and soft gastrointestinal system, we proceed to show the feasibility of our S-NeuroString for post-operative multimodal continuous motility mapping and tissue stimulation in awake pigs. We further demonstrate multi-channel single-unit electrical recording in mouse brain for up to 4 months, and a fabrication capability to produce 1,280 channels within a 230-μm-diameter soft fibre. Our soft bioelectronic fibres offer a powerful platform for minimally invasive implantable electronics, where diverse sensing and stimulation functionalities can be effectively integrated.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41586-025-09481-2

    View details for PubMedID 40962977

    View details for PubMedCentralID 6397644

  • Ultrasensitive label-free optical recording of bioelectric potentials using dioxythiophene-based electrochromic polymers. Nature communications Zhou, Y., Liu, E., Österholm, A. M., Jones, A. L., Sun, P., Yang, Y., Tsai, C. T., Zaluska, T., Zhang, W., Müller, H., Reynolds, J. R., Cui, B. 2025; 16 (1): 6776

    Abstract

    Dioxythiophene-based polymers are electrochromic, effectively converting electric potentials into optical signals through voltage-dependent changes in absorption. The electrochromic property of these π-conjugated polymers can be harnessed to transform miniscule bioelectric signals, such as neuronal action potentials, into optical readouts. To enhance sensitivity, we investigated the impact of backbone and side-chain chemistry of dioxythiophene-based polymers. Among them, P(OE3)-E, a copolymer of oligoether-functionalized 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene with unsubstituted 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene, exhibits the highest electrochromic sensitivity for optical bioelectric potential detection. A crucial factor in optimizing detection sensitivity is aligning the electric potential that triggers the sharpest optical transition in electrochromic polymers with the redox potential of the biological environment. Using P(OE3)-E thin films, we reliably detected field potentials from isolated rat hearts, extracellular action potentials of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and spontaneous action potentials of dissociated rat hippocampal neurons. Our results achieved a detection sensitivity of ~3.3 µV with sub-millisecond temporal resolution, matching that of traditional electrode-based recordings while eliminating the constraints of electrode patterning or placement. This work highlights the significant potential of π-conjugated polymers for advancing bioelectric detection technologies.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-61708-y

    View details for PubMedID 40701952

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12287533

  • Kirigami electronics for long-term electrophysiological recording of human neural organoids and assembloids. Nature biotechnology Yang, X., Forro, C., Li, T. L., Miura, Y., Zaluska, T. J., Tsai, C., Kanton, S., McQueen, J. P., Chen, X., Mollo, V., Santoro, F., Pașca, S. P., Cui, B. 2024

    Abstract

    Realizing the full potential of organoids and assembloids to model neural development and disease will require improved methods for long-term, minimally invasive recording of electrical activity. Current technologies, such as patch clamp, penetrating microelectrodes, planar electrode arrays and substrate-attached flexible electrodes, do not allow chronic recording of organoids in suspension, which is necessary to preserve architecture. Inspired by kirigami art, we developed flexible electronics that transition from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional basket-like configuration with either spiral or honeycomb patterns to accommodate the long-term culture of organoids in suspension. Here we show that this platform, named kirigami electronics (KiriE), integrates with and enables chronic recording of cortical organoids for up to 120days while preserving their morphology, cytoarchitecture and cell composition. We demonstrate integration of KiriE with optogenetic and pharmacological manipulation and modeling phenotypes related to a genetic disease. Moreover, KiriE can capture corticostriatal connectivity in assembloids following optogenetic stimulation. Thus, KiriE will enable investigation of disease and activity patterns underlying nervous system assembly.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41587-023-02081-3

    View details for PubMedID 38253880