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  • Review Article
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Soft bioelectronics for the management of cardiovascular diseases

Nature Reviews Bioengineering volume 2, pages 8–24 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

The motions of the heart are regulated by electrophysiological signals, which can be monitored and altered by bioelectronic devices for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In particular, soft bioelectronic devices, composed of deformable and conductive materials, can be implanted or designed as wearable devices to enable conformal contact with heart tissue or the skin for real-time and precise diagnosis and treatment. In this Review, we discuss the design and materials of soft bioelectronic devices, highlighting their advantages, as compared with rigid bioelectronic devices, in cardiovascular disease management. We examine the engineering and applications of soft implantable bioelectronics, including cardiac mapping devices, cardiac stimulation devices and mechanically assisting devices, as well as wearable soft bioelectronics, such as blood oxygen saturation sensors, heart monitoring devices and transdermal drug delivery systems. Finally, we outline technical challenges and future opportunities for the clinical application of soft bioelectronic devices, such as a wireless power supply, optogenetic control of cardiac motion, bioadhesives for device–tissue interfaces and artificial intelligence-assisted data analysis.

Key points

  • The electrophysiological state of the heart can be monitored and manipulated by bioelectronics for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

  • Deformable, conductive bioelectronics can be designed to interface with heart tissue and manage cardiovascular disease with high diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy.

  • Soft electronic materials, such as conductive polymers, hydrogels, liquid metals and stretchable nanocomposites, enable conformal device–tissue interfaces, addressing the mechanical mismatch of rigid bioelectronic devices.

  • Soft bioelectronics can be engineered as multichannel arrays for 3D cardiac mapping, localized therapy, heart modulation and mechanical control.

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Fig. 1: Bioelectronic devices.
Fig. 2: Soft implantable bioelectronics.
Fig. 3: Soft wearable bioelectronics.
Fig. 4: Opportunities and challenges for soft bioelectronics.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Institute for Basic Science (IBS-R006-D1 and IBS-R006-A1) of the Republic of Korea.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo, Sang Ihn Han, Chan Soon Park.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo

  2. Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sung-Hyuk Sunwoo, Sang Ihn Han, Jeong Hyun Kim, Joanna S. Georgiou, Seung-Pyo Lee, Dae-Hyeong Kim & Taeghwan Hyeon

  3. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sang Ihn Han, Joanna S. Georgiou, Dae-Hyeong Kim & Taeghwan Hyeon

  4. Biomaterials Research Center, Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sang Ihn Han

  5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Chan Soon Park & Seung-Pyo Lee

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Pyo Lee

  7. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Dae-Hyeong Kim

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S.-H.S., S.I.H. and C.S.P. contributed equally to the work. All authors contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Seung-Pyo Lee, Dae-Hyeong Kim or Taeghwan Hyeon.

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Sunwoo, SH., Han, S.I., Park, C.S. et al. Soft bioelectronics for the management of cardiovascular diseases. Nat Rev Bioeng 2, 8–24 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-023-00102-z

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