‘Melt in the Body’ Electronics A New Medical Frontier

Dissolving Electronics: A New Frontier in Medical Technology

Ultra-thin electronics that dissolve inside the body, once a futuristic concept, are now closer to becoming a clinical reality. These devices, part of a field known as “transient electronics,” can “melt away” once their job is done, offering exciting possibilities for medical applications[1][2].

Recent Developments

Since the initial research, significant progress has been made in the field of transient electronics:

• Biodegradable sensors have been developed for monitoring intracranial pressure, electroencephalography (EEG), and electrocorticography (ECoG), showing promise in diagnosing conditions like traumatic brain injury[1].
• Wireless biodegradable stimulators have been used to accelerate the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves, expanding the use of transient electronics from sensing to therapy[1].
• Researchers have created simple sensors and therapeutic devices that have been successfully tested in animal models, bringing human clinical trials within reach[5].

How It Works

The core technology relies on two key developments:

1. Creating electronics that can dissolve
2. Controlling the timing of dissolution

The devices use ultra-thin sheets of silicon (nanomembranes) that can dissolve in days or weeks. The dissolution rate is controlled by a protective layer of silk, which can be engineered to break down over varying periods[2][5].

Potential Applications

Transient electronics offer numerous potential applications in medicine and healthcare:

• Post-surgical monitoring of inflammation and other symptoms[5]
• Temporary pacemakers for cardiac support after surgery[5]
• Nerve regeneration therapy[5]
• Pain management[5]
• Targeted drug delivery[5]

Advantages

These dissolving devices offer several advantages over traditional implants:

• Elimination of secondary surgeries for device removal[1]
• Reduced risk of surgical complications and infections[1]
• Enhanced biocompatibility and reduced long-term side effects[5]
• Potential for “on-demand” dissolution for security applications[2]

Future Outlook

While transient electronics show great promise, challenges remain in bringing these devices to clinical use. Researchers are working on expanding the range of available materials and improving device performance. As the field progresses, we may soon see the first human clinical trials of these innovative dissolving electronics[5].

Read More
^{[1] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1557/mrs.2020.19
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36688506/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7040651/
[4] https://otm.illinois.edu/technologies/suite-bioresorbable-and-transient-electronics
[5] https://cen.acs.org/materials/electronic-materials/Degradable-electronic-medical-devices-sensors/101/i34
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927796X2100019X
[7] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adsu.202100057
[8] https://www.foxnews.com/health/transient-electronics-new-medical-devices-can-safely-disappear-inside-the-body}