Work

A Printed Hydrogel Hybrid Electronic System With Thermoresponsive Adhesion for Neurophysiological Monitoring

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Neurological disorders severely impair the daily life of patients, necessitating precise assessments of neural conduction pathway damage to guide effective diagnosis and treatment. However, current clinical neurodiagnostic equipment is expensive, bulky, and restricted to hospital settings. Furthermore, the rigid nature and low adhesion of conventional electrodes lead to the acquisition of low-quality neurophysiological signals. Here, we develop a soft hybrid electronic system assembled with printed responsive hydrogel electrodes. By synthesizing thermoresponsive hydrogel microsphere inks, we achieve rapid direct-printed patterning of interface layers. Based on a thermally triggered hydration-dehydration strategy of hydrogel microspheres, the hydrogel electrodes demonstrate customizable adhesion, enabling intimate integration with skin for high-fidelity signal acquisition and gentle detachment after monitoring. Through hydrogel interface modification, on-skin electrodes also show excellent charge injection capability for stimulation and improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The integration of hydrogel patches with the hybrid electronic system enables high-frequency and high-fidelity acquisition of subtle neural conduction signals. We further apply this system to assess injuries to the median and ulnar nerves in clinical cases, realizing accurate diagnosis of neural impairment while ensuring customized adhesion regulation. This user-friendly system holds great promise as a low-cost and portable diagnostic platform for telemedicine, home-based care, and clinical settings.

Source: Advanced Science

DOI: 10.1002/advs.76396