Conformal Fixation Strategies and Bioadhesives for Soft Bioelectronics

Abstract

Flexible wearable and implantable devices are contributing to the healthcare field by enabling intuitive interfaces with the tissues of human body through their thin form factors, which enable more accurate monitoring of signals and effective delivery of therapy. The development of such devices is accompanied with an increasing interest in strategies and technologies for conformally fixing and adhering flexible biomedical devices in place to acquire high-quality biosignals over a long period, even with the subtle movements of the target. Owing to the various mechanical properties and wet or dynamic environments of human tissues, it is necessary to use different adhesion strategies that consider the biocompatibility and cohesive properties for each case. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of recent bio-adhesives technologies and their practical applications in the healthcare field by classifying them into: 1) Conventional Fixation, 2) Mechanical Fixation, and 3) Chemical Adhesion, based on the mechanism, and 4) Functional Adhesion and 5) Biomimetic Adhesion, based on the unique properties. Furthermore, the principles and detailed mechanisms of each adhesion strategy based on the design and characteristics of the bioadhesives are thoroughly reviewed to provide valuable insights and an overall summary of the prospects and challenges of future bioadhesives technology.