Combining the world of electronics — rigid, metallic, bulky — with that of the body — soft, flexible, delicate — is now possible. Researchers at the University of Chicago have managed to create a prototype of what they call “living bioelectronics”, a combination of living cells, gel and electronics that can integrate with body tissues. Tested on mice, this new type of technology was able to detect a skin disease by itself and treat it without irritating it.
Marrying electronics and the human body
The resounding success of pacemakers aside, adapting electronic devices to the human body has always proven difficult. The main disadvantage comes from the fact that these devices are both bulky and rigid, therefore difficult to accept by the body.
Usually, bioelectronic devices consist of the device itself and a soft layer to reduce irritation. But in their new study, researchers from Chicago decided to go further. They added a third component: living cells. The group was intrigued by the healing properties of certain bacteria such as S.epidermidis, a microbe that lives naturally on human skin and has been shown to reduce inflammation. So the backbone of their new device is a thin, flexible electronic circuit with sensors. The whole thing is covered in a gel created from tapioca starch and gelatin, which is ultra-flexible and mimics the composition of the fabric itself. In addition, and this is all the novelty, they inserted bacteria S. epidermidis in the frost.
When the device is placed on the skin, bacteria secrete compounds that reduce inflammation, while the sensor detects signals such as temperature and humidity. Tests carried out on mice subject to psoriasis-type skin conditions showed a significant reduction in symptoms. The researchers hope that these principles can also be applied to other parts of the body, such as cardiac or neuronal stimulation.
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