A pioneering article on the future of bioelectronics has been published in Nature Reviews Materials, shedding light on the transformative potential of two-dimensional (2D) materials for creating ultra-thin, functional interfaces between electronic devices and the human body.
The article, titled “Atomically Thin Bioelectronics”, was co-authored by Dmitry Kireev, Shan Kutagulla (MS&E Ph.D. graduate student), Deji Akinwande, and a team of collaborators, marking a significant contribution to the field of bioengineering and nanotechnology. Bioelectronics, which refer to the integration of electronic systems with biological systems, have gained considerable attention for their ability to provide sensing of the human body by devices. These systems are crucial for advancing medical technologies like wearables, prosthetics, and implantable devices, offering the potential for real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. However, achieving optimal biocompatibility and performance has long posed significant challenges, especially in terms of device thickness, flexibility, and compatibility with biological systems.
Enter 2D materials—specifically, graphene and its relatives—which have shown exceptional promise as the foundation for next-generation bioelectronic devices. The Perspective article explores how these materials, owing to their unique electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, offer ideal solutions for creating ultrathin, flexible, and highly functional interfaces that can integrate with both skin and internal organs. In their paper, the authors provide an in-depth review of the key properties of 2D materials, including their conductivity, flexibility, transparency, and biocompatibility, making them promising candidates for "skintronics" and "organtronics"—terms coined to describe bioelectronic interfaces with the skin and internal organs, respectively. These technologies could advance healthcare by enabling wearable and implantable systems that are more comfortable, efficient, and long-lasting compared to current alternatives.
Shan Kutagulla is a graduate researcher in the Materials Science and Engineering doctoral program at Texas Materials Institute, working under the supervision of Professor Deji Akinwande, a leading expert in materials science and bioengineering. The research was conducted in collaboration with other experts in the fields of nanotechnology, bioelectronics, and biomedical engineering including Dr. Dmitry Kireev who was a research associate at UT Austin, and now an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Nature Reviews Materials is a prestigious journal that publishes high-impact research and thought leadership in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology, and engineering. The journal provides comprehensive reviews on emerging technologies and interdisciplinary advances in material research, with a strong focus on their applications in real-world systems, particularly in healthcare and electronics.
