Soft Robotic Bioelectronics

Advanced electronics technologies that can intimately integrate with biological systems have the potential to accelerate progress in biomedical research and to improve strategies in patient care. Soft electronic devices that are mechanically invisible to biological tissues have demonstrated advanced diagnostic/therapeutic functions as epidermal electronics or implanted devices. One way to achieve such soft, biocompatible device form factor with high-performance electronics is through the hybrid materials approach of composite engineering: conventional inorganic materials with good electronic properties are engineered for structural stretchability, and then integrated with soft elastomeric substrate for intimate biointerface. Building on this platform, we are interested in robotizing the passive elastomeric substrate to achieve bioelectronic devices with the abilities to morph, move, and manipulate. We envision such platform to enable new diagnostic/therapeutic functions deliverable through minimally invasive approach.