Ultrastretchable Organogel/Silicone Fiber-Helical Sensors for Self-Powered Implantable Ligament Strain Monitoring

Abstract

Implantable sensors with the abilities of real-time healthcare monitoring and auxiliary training are important for exercise-induced or disease-induced muscle and ligament injuries. However, some of these implantable sensors have some shortcomings, such as requiring an external power supply or poor flexibility and stability. Herein, an organogel/silicone fiber-helical sensor based on a triboelectric nanogenerator (OFS-TENG) is developed for power-free and sutureable implantation ligament strain monitoring. The OFS-TENG with high stability and ultrastretchability is composed of an organogel fiber and a silicone fiber intertwined with a double helix structure. The organogel fiber possesses the merits of rapid preparation (15 s), good transparency (>95%), high stretchability (600%), and favorable stability (over 6 months). The OFS-TENG is successfully implanted on the patellar ligament of the rabbit knee for the real-time monitoring of knee ligament stretch and muscle stress, which is expected to provide a solution for real-time diagnosis of muscle and ligament injuries. The prepared self-powered OFS-TENG can monitor data on human muscles and ligaments in real-time.

Construction of zwitterionic osmolyte-based hydrogel electrolytes towards stable zinc anode for durable aqueous zinc ion storage and integrated electronics

“…In the era of the internet of things and articial intelligence, integrated electronic devices have attracted tremendous attention owing to their promising applications in wearable electronics, human-machine interactions, health monitoring systems, tactile sensors, and so prosthetics. 1,2 Despite brilliant achievements, most of the integrated devices receive electricity from conventional lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, or solar cells, which inevitably suffer from high prices, safety issues, low energy densities, or climate and environmental constraints. 3 In this regard, aqueous zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) with the essential characteristics of being cost-efficient, ame retardancy, moderate energy densities, and environmentally friendly, would be far more competitive than the other rechargeable technologies in integrated electronics.…”

Nanocomposite conductive hydrogels with Robust elasticity and multifunctional responsiveness for flexible sensing and wound monitoring

“…Conductive hydrogels featuring structural resemblance to biological tissues, tunable three-dimensional porous conductive channels, and rapid response to various external stimuli, have drawn widespread attention as versatile biomimetic skin for applications in health management, 1,2 disease diagnosis, 3 human-machine interfaces, 4,5 implantable devices, 6 and portable energy harvesters. 7 Recently, hydrogel-based wearable biosensors have been developed to detect pathophysiological events of skin wounds for human healthcare beyond the traditional clinical settings. 8 Skin wounds are usually accompanied by the destruction of epithelium and connective tissue, which eventually affects the basic functions of the skin.…”

Response Regulation for Epidermal Fabric Strain Sensors via Mechanical Strategy

“…To design and fabricate fabric strain sensors with different measuring ranges and sensitivities, previous work reported strategies in both the materials [ 55,56 ] and structural [ 13,39,57–60 ] regimes. In the materials regime, the use of diverse active materials has proven effective in building sensors with discretely different measuring ranges.…”

“…strategies in both the materials [55,56] and structural [13,39,[57][58][59][60] regimes. In the materials regime, the use of diverse active materials has proven effective in building sensors with discretely different measuring ranges.…”