Plant-inspired conductive adhesive organohydrogel with extreme environmental tolerance as a wearable dressing for multifunctional sensors

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022 Jul:215:112509. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112509. Epub 2022 Apr 19.

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels have attracted significant attention as a promising material in electrical and biomedical fields. However, the simultaneous realization of good conductivity, toughness, high tissue adhesiveness, excellent biocompatibility, and extreme environmental tolerance remains a challenge. Inspired by the antifreezing/antiheating behavior of natural plants, a calcium chloride/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber-dopamine/ polyacrylamide (CaCl2/TOCNF-DOPA/PAM) glycerol/water organohydrogel with antifreezing and antiheating properties, good transparency, conductivity, stability, excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and tissue adhesiveness was fabricated. The organohydrogel has about 700% stretchability, with about 90% transparency. The organohydrogel exhibits good conductivity of 4.9 × 10-4 S/cm and high tissue adhesiveness of 50 kPa, which can monitor various human activities. The organohydrogel displays excellent extreme environmental tolerance to maintain the conductivity and mechanical properties under an extremely wide temperature range (-24 to 50 °C) for a long period due to its water-locking effect between glycerol and water molecules. The biocompatible organohydrogel is able to protect the skin from frostbite or burns in harsh environments. The plant-inspired stable and durable organohydrogel is used as a wearable dressing for multifunctional sensors.

Keywords: Adhesive; Antifreezing; Antiheating; Conductive hydrogel; Sensor.

MeSH terms

  • Adhesives*
  • Bandages
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Glycerol
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels
  • Water
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

  • Adhesives
  • Hydrogels
  • Water
  • Glycerol