Conductive Cellulose Bio-Nanosheets Assembled Biostable Hydrogel for Reliable Bioelectronics

Biostable electronic materials that can maintain their super mechanical and conductive properties, even when exposed to biofluids, are the fundamental basis for designing reliable bioelectronic devices. Herein, cellulose-derived conductive 2D bio-nanosheets as electronic base materials are developed and assembled into a conductive hydrogel with ultra-high biostability, capable of surviving in harsh physiological environments. The bio-nanosheets are synthesized by guiding the in situ regeneration of cellulose crystal into a 2D planar structure using the polydopamine-reduced-graphene oxide as supporting templates. The nanosheet-assembled hydrogel exhibits stable electrical and mechanical performances after undergoing aqueous immersion and in vivo implantation. Thus, the hydrogel-based bioelectronic devices are able to conformally integrate with the human body and stably record electrophysiological signals. Owing to its tissue affinity, the hydrogel further serves as an E-skin, which employs electrotherapy to aid in the faster healing of chronic wounds in diabetic mice through transcutaneous electrical stimulation. The nanosheet-assembled biostable, conductive, flexible, and cell/tissue affinitive hydrogel lays a foundation for designing electronically and mechanically reliable bioelectronic devices.

Automated summary

This study developed biostable cellulose-derived conductive 2D bio-nanosheets and a conductive hydrogel, capable of surviving in harsh physiological environments. The hydrogel can stably record electrophysiological signals and aid in wound healing, laying the foundation for designing reliable bioelectronic devices.