When I first heard the words “biodegradable” and “electronic devices” together, especially in the context of nanotechnology and the medical field, the idea smacked ever so slightly of science fiction. You know, the sort of advancement that belongs in an era of teleportation and colonies on other planets. Apparently, the science is real and also really cool. A team of researchers from the University of Illinois, Tufts University, and Northwestern University have developed a family of biodegradable electronics that dissolve completely in water and other similar fluids. Silicon, magnesium, and magnesium oxide are the standard ingredients for the circuitry, and an engineered silk barrier protects the materials from water so they don’t begin breaking down right away. The circuits are ultrathin, only a few nanometers thick, and the engineers can control how quickly the device breaks down by changing the thickness of the materials. They can also control the length of time before the device begins to biodegrade by modifying the structure of the protective silk layer. (For more on cool new uses for silk in nanotechnology, check out Rebecca’s earlier article.)

There is a broad range of applications for biodegradable electronic devices, both medical and non-medical. The research team that developed these transient circuits has implanted some of them in rats to monitor bacterial activity and apply heat when necessary in order to kill the bacteria. The circuits were absorbed almost completely after several weeks. These electronics could be used as implantable monitors to track recovery progress after surgery, and they wouldn’t require an additional incision for removal. Some non-medical applications for these circuits include temporary environmental sensors to monitor oil spills or chemical leakages. This technology could also be incorporated into disposable consumer electronic devices on a larger scale, making them at least partially compostable and contributing to a “greener” society. There are so many possibilities!

-KB

Reference: “Circuits Melt in Your Body, Not in Your Hands,” Mechanical Engineering Magazine, November 2012, p. 12.

We are passionate about your success. Tell us more about your regulatory and quality needs to learn about how we can help.

Book a Consultation

GLOBAL BOTTOM CTA INSTRUCTIONS:

To display custom copy instead of global copy in this section, please go to Show Global Content for Bottom CTA? toggle in the "Contents" tab to the left, toggle it off, save, and then REFRESH the page editor, the custom text will then show up and ready to be edited.

Turning the global content back on will be the same process, go to the toggle and toggle it back on, save and refresh!