Biosafe, Eco-Friendly Levan Polysaccharide toward Transient Electronics

Small. 2018 Aug;14(32):e1801332. doi: 10.1002/smll.201801332. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Abstract

New options in the material context of transient electronics are essential to create or expand potential applications and to progress in the face of technological challenges. A soft, transparent, and cost-effective polymer of levan polysaccharide that is capable of complete, programmable dissolution is described when immersed in water and implanted in an animal model. The results include chemical analysis, the kinetics of hydrolysis, and adjustable dissolution rates of levan, and a simple theoretical model of reactive diffusion governed by temperature. In vivo experiments of the levan represent nontoxicity and biocompatibility without any adverse reactions. On-demand, selective control of dissolution behaviors with an animal model demonstrates an effective triggering strategy to program the system's lifetime, providing the possibility of potential applications in envisioned areas such as bioresorbable electronic implants and drug release systems.

Keywords: biocompatible; biodegradable; implantable electronics; polysaccharide; transient electronics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electronics*
  • Fructans / chemistry*
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Metals / chemistry
  • Oxides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Semiconductors
  • Silicon / chemistry
  • Transistors, Electronic

Substances

  • Fructans
  • Metals
  • Oxides
  • Polysaccharides
  • levan
  • Magnesium
  • Silicon