Highly conductive, stretchable and biocompatible Ag–Au core–sheath nanowire composite for wearable and implantable bioelectronics

It’s a wrap for new heart monitors

28 August 2019

An elastic mesh made from nanowires wrapped in a rubber-like material is promising for monitoring electrical signals produced by muscles and the heart. It could also administer electrical or thermal stimulations.

Wearable and implantable electronics could be used for monitoring muscular and cardiac functions and for delivering electrical stimuli. Such devices need to be made from conductive, stretchable and biocompatible materials. However, developing materials that meet these criteria has been challenging because of a trade-off that exists between conductivity and stretchability.

Now, a team led by researchers from the Institute for Basic Sciences in Korea has developed a highly conductive, soft mesh made from silver–gold nanowires sheathed in a copolymer material.

The device can be worn or implanted. It could be used to identify dysfunctions in muscle or cardiac activity or provide electrical and thermal stimuli for therapeutic applications.

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References

1. Nature Nanotechnology 13, 1048–1056 (2018). doi: 10.1038/s41565-018-0226-8