A technique has been built by researchers to create environmentally friendly and adaptive sensors that may be printed directly onto a variety of biological surfaces, such as a flower petal or a finger, and remain undetectable.
The technique was created by University of Cambridge researchers, and it is modeled after spider silk, which can adhere to a variety of surfaces. These Spider silks’ are also bioelectronic, allowing the ‘web’ to be expanded with additional sensing functionalities.
The fibers are so light—at least 50 times thinner than human hair—that the researchers were able to print them straight onto a dandelion’s fluffy seedhead without causing the structure to collapse. The fiber sensors adapt to human skin when printed on it, exposing the sweat pores so the person is unaware of their existence. The fibers printed onto a human finger have undergone tests that indicate they may find utility as continuous health monitors.
This low-emission, low-waste approach to enhancing living structures has applications in virtual reality, healthcare, electronic textiles, and environmental monitoring, among other areas. The journal Nature Electronics publishes a report on the findings.
This low-emission, low-waste approach to enhancing living structures has applications in virtual reality, healthcare, electronic textiles, and environmental monitoring, among other areas. The journal Nature Electronics publishes a report on the findings.
Despite the extraordinary sensitivity of human skin, adding electronic sensors to it could completely alter the way we interact with the environment. For instance, sensors that are physically printed into the skin may be used for ongoing health monitoring, to comprehend skin sensations, or to enhance the feeling of “reality” in virtual reality or gaming applications.
Smartwatches and other wearable gadgets with built-in sensors are commonplace, yet they can also be intrusive, uncomfortable, and interfere with the skin’s natural senses.
The research’s principal investigator, Professor Yan Yan Shery Huang of Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, stated that “the interface between the device and the surface is vital if you want to accurately sense anything on a biological surface like skin or a leaf.” “We also want bioelectronics that are completely imperceptible to the user, so they don’t in any way interfere with how the user interacts with the world, and we want them to be sustainable and low waste.”
Wearable sensors can be made in a variety of ways, but each approach has limitations. For example, flexible electronics are typically printed on plastic sheets that are impermeable to moisture or gas; it’s like putting cling film on your skin.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), a division of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Wellcome, the Royal Society, and the European Research Council all provided partial funding for the study.
Reference – Imperceptible sensors made from ‘electronic spider silk’ can be printed directly on human skin
