University of Queensland researchers have made use of a brand-new engineering method to produce a small film-like sensor that is both flexible and sensitive enough to enable a more streamlined future for electronic medical implants and real-time sensing applications.
“Although modern implanted electronics have developed rapidly over the past 60 years, most commercially available devices are still built on relatively similar—and limiting—design concepts such as thick ceramic or titanium packaging,” Mostafa Kamal Masud, senior author of the paper that details the new development, said in a media statement. “We are offering a new route toward miniaturized, flexible, implanted medical devices that will diagnose and treat chronic diseases and help improve the lives of millions of people.”
The film-like sensor designed by Masud and PhD candidate Aditya Ashok represents a novel approach to the field of mesoporous materials, which are highly porous substances with traits that benefit diagnostics, catalysis, and drug delivery.
Using a novel hybrid fabrication process, the researchers were able to synthesize a mesoporous gold film that acts as an electrode for biosensing and bioimplant applications.
The flexibility and sensitivity of the gold film make it an ideal wearable system for real-time monitoring of body glucose. It also has strong potential for implanted nerve recording applications.
“The demand for a simple and robust fabrication process with this kind of flexible electronics is enormous,” Masud said. “Our aim here is to see this sensor embedded in wearable devices—but the potential and possibilities in this field are vast. We’re going to be exploring more in our coming projects.”
