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Ionogels, recognized for their flexibility and ionic conductivity, show considerable promise across various applications including electronic skins, biomedical electronics, and smart robotics. However, the majority of ionogels are plagued by suboptimal mechanical strength, a restricted range of operating temperatures, and poor recyclability. Here, an acetone‐stimulated supramolecular reinforcement strategy to develop robust and environmentally tolerant ionogels is introduced. The bio‐based ionogels feature a firm supramolecular architecture formed by the entwining of soybean protein molecules around cellulose macromolecular chains. This coiled design, inspired by cucumber vines, endows the ionogels with remarkable tensile strength (>30 MPa), enables them to withstand temperature above 85 °C with tensile strength over 15 MPa, and maintains notable cold resistance down to −20 °C with tensile strength exceeding 10 MPa. Further, the bio‐based ionogels exhibit excellent recyclability, reprocessing capabilities, shape customizability, good biocompatibility, and full biodegradability. This study provides a valuable strategy for manipulating supramolecular conformation to create robust ionogels that overcome the traditional trade‐offs of high strength and environmental tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) represent a promising approach for flexible, wearable, biomedical electronics, and sensors integrated with diverse substrates. Their ability to operate at low voltages and interact effectively with biological systems makes them particularly suitable for neuromorphic applications. For neuromorphic devices, OECTs must enhance electrical performance, biocompatibility, and signal storage/erasure capabilities. While UV cross‐linking methods with various side effects on organic semiconductors are predominant in improving mobility and current retention time, thermal cross‐linking based on the solution process has not been extensively explored. Additionally, despite significant research on the modification of electrolyte property, the ionic charge compensation mechanisms between multiple electrolytes are still unclear. This study employs a cross‐linking strategy involving the chemical reaction of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) with di‐tert‐butyl‐peroxide (DTBP) to create a cross‐linked P3HT active layer. Furthermore, a dual ion gel structure combining a conventional ion gel with a chitosan‐based ion gel is investigated for increased ionic transport to enhance OECT performance. Using the above two methods, the enhanced electrical performance showing the mobility of 25 F cm−1 V−1 s−1 and synaptic properties showing long‐term plasticity of cross‐linked OECTs with a dual ion gel structure are demonstrated, suggesting their potential application as high‐performance neuromorphic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multi-channel electrophysiology systems for recording of neuronal activity face significant data throughput limitations, hampering real-time, data-informed experiments. These limitations impact both experimental neurobiology research and next-generation neuroprosthetics. Methods: We present a novel solution that leverages the high integration density of 22nm fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator technology to address these challenges. The proposed highly integrated programmable System-on-Chip (SoC) comprises 68-channel 0.41 μW/Ch recording frontends, spike detectors, 16-channel 0.87–4.39 μW/Ch action potentials and 8-channel 0.32 μW/Ch local field potential codecs, as well as a multiply-accumulate-assisted power-efficient processor operating at 25 MHz (5.19 μW/MHz). The system supports on-chip training processes for compression, training, and inference for neural spike sorting. The spike sorting achieves an average accuracy of 91.48 or 94.12% depending on the utilized features. The proposed programmable SoC is optimized for reduced area (9 mm2) and power. On-chip processing and compression capabilities free up the data bottlenecks in data transmission (up to 91% space saving ratio), and moreover enable a fully autonomous yet flexible processor-driven operation. Discussion: Combined, these design considerations overcome data-bottlenecks by allowing on-chip feature extraction and subsequent compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing has critical merits in micro/nanoscale additive manufacturing because of its ultrahigh resolution and wide ink compatibility, making it an advantageous choice for electronics manufacturing, high-resolution prototyping, and biological component fabrication. However, EHD printing is currently limited by its rather low throughput due to the lack of high-frequency and high-density multi-nozzle printheads. This paper presents a novel EHD printhead with a protruding polymer-based nozzle design. An insulated, hydrophobic, and protruding polymer nozzle array with an appropriate geometric structure can effectively address key problems in multi-nozzle jetting, such as electrical crosstalk, electrical discharge, liquid flooding, and nonuniform jetting. By investigating the influence of the electrical and geometric characteristics of the nozzle arrays on the electrical crosstalk behavior and fabricating the optimized nozzle array via MEMS technology, we achieve an EHD printhead with a large scale (256), high density (127 dpi), and high jetting frequency (23 kHz), and addressable jetting can be realized by adding independently controllable extractors underneath the nozzle array. Many functional materials, such as quantum dots, perovskite, and nanosilver inks, can be ejected into high-resolution patterns through the optimized nozzle array, demonstrating the great prospects of our designed printhead in electronics manufacturing. This MEMS-compatible printhead design lays the foundation for high-throughput fabrication of micro/nanostructures and promotes practical applications of EHD printing in functional electronics and biomedical/energy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer diagnosis with breath volatile organic compounds (VOC) analysis using electronic nose (e-nose) is an emerging area in the medical electronics field. Numerous chemical gas sensors were developed for the analysis of human breath VOCs. Even though the VOC gas sensors are developed with modern materials and techniques, as of now, these gas sensors are still not widely used in clinical applications because of their adverse performance in some cases. This paper discusses the design and development of an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) based e-nose system, which can detect lung cancer by detecting the volatile organic compounds in the exhaled human breath. We fabricated an e-nose system with five VOC gas sensors and tested the system with breath samples of 22 lung cancer patients and 40 healthy controls. This work, details the sensor selection process, fabrication of e-nose system, sampling methods, and sensor data analysis methods. Among the three classification algorithms used in the study, linear discriminant analysis have shown a better classification accuracy of 93.14% and AUC of 0.98. This algorithm provided a sensitivity and specificity of 88.63% and 95.62% respectively. Briefly, the sensor array system developed with TGS gas sensors was non-invasive, low cost, and gave a rapid response. Even though the attained results were good, further examinations are essential to enhance the sensor array system, investigate the long run reproducibility and repeatability, and enlarge its relevancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible sensors are garnering substantial interests for various promising applications, including medical electronics, environmental monitoring, and wearable devices. Developing a flexible sensor with high compliance, high sensitivity, and high reliability through the construction of a novel composite conductive hydrogel based on the synergistic enhancement effect of conductive polymers and metal ions is a remarkable achievement. Herein, an electronic/ionic‐conductive double network hydrogel (polypyrrole (PPy)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)‐Al3+/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) with soft compliance, highly conductivity, and stability is presented. Moreover, owing to the synergistic reinforcement effect of the relatively immobilized "islands" of PPy particles and large amounts of movable "bridges" of aluminum ions (Al3+) within the double network hydrogel, the as‐optimized PPy/CMC‐Al3+/PVA composite gels exhibit excellent conductivity (σ = 3.47 ± 0.25 S m−1) and mechanical properties (E = 18.53 ± 0.67 kPa). Furthermore, it has been developed as strain sensors with relatively high linear sensitivity (gauge factor = 2.58) within a broad linearity range (0–400%). It can also be served as a monitoring devices for subtle physiological signals emanating from various parts of the human body. The robust sensor has great potential to be developed as wearable electronic devices and applied in healthcare monitoring fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of supercapacitor electrodes based on metal complexes constitutes an interesting step toward different biomedical applications. In this context of research, a new Zn(DHA)2(DMSO)2 complex based on dehydroacetic acid (DHA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Suitable crystals for X-ray diffraction were collected by slow evaporation at room temperature. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the zinc ions bind through two carbonyl groups of the DHA ligand, and the titled complex is formed in a 1 : 2 metal–ligand stoichiometric ratio with an octahedral coordination geometry. Detailed Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots were used to explore the intermolecular interactions in the material, and they revealed that the most significant contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (45.5%), H⋯O/O⋯H (36.0%) and H⋯C/C⋯H (16.1%). In addition, using the DFT calculation method, the global descriptors are computed from the HOMO–LUMO orbitals, and the molecular reactivity sites are analyzed from an electrostatic potential map. Furthermore, an electrochemical study was carried out to estimate the energy storage capacity performance of the Zn(DHA)2(DMSO)2/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid material at a mass ratio of 100:1 which is sufficient for applications in many implantable health systems. The electrochemical results indicate that the Zn(DHA)2(DMSO)2/GO modified electrode exhibits excellent pseudo-capacitive behavior, with a specific capacitance of 36.40 F g−1 at 0.2 mA g−1 and a high specific energy (445 W h kg−1) at a high current (1 mA g−1). Excellent cycling stability with a specific capacitance retention of 105% after 2000 charge–discharge cycles at 10 mA g−1 was also observed. In summary, the Zn(DHA)2(DMSO)2/GO modified electrode can be explored as a supercapacitor electrode that can be applied in energy storage devices for biomedical electronics dedicated to health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are vital across numerous sectors, from nuclear and architecture to electronics and medicine, due to their unique properties. Meeting the growing demand for REEs necessitates innovative recovery methods from waste and recycling. This review explores the adsorption of REEs using polymer composites, including biopolymers, synthetic polymers, and conducting polymers. These composites demonstrate remarkable adsorption capacity and selectivity for REEs. This review explored several natural and synthetic polymers, composites, and nanocomposites as adsorbents, focusing on chemical structures, kinetics, adsorption capacity, processes, and polarity for REE uptake from aqueous solutions. Notably, benzyl phosphate-based polymers achieve the highest adsorption capacity at 301 mg/g, while polypyrrole sawdust exhibits the lowest at 6 mg/g. Nanocomposites, however, excel with adsorption capacities exceeding 900 mg/g. This review underscores the critical importance of REE recovery and recycling for a sustainable and clean global environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinylidene difluoride trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) has received widespread application in flexible electronics and biomedical devices but is limited in its sensing modalities to piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. The addition of optically or magnetically active nanoparticles could provide additional sensing modalities in the same element, which could drive miniaturization of such sensors. Europium barium titanate (EBTO) is one such optically active nanoparticle that could add functionality to such a nanocomposite. In this work, multifunctional nanocomposites of PVDF-TrFE and EBTO are successfully synthesized and characterized for their material and electronic properties. The nanocomposite in this work is the first known multifunctional nanocomposite with PVDF-TrFE and a fluorescent nanoparticle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data‐driven machine learning technology used for neural decoding emphasizes the requirements of in vivo and in vitro neural signal acquisition with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, micro‐electrode arrays (MEAs) that simultaneously achieve high spatial and temporal resolution neural signal acquisition are not yet available. Meanwhile, the high data bandwidth of large‐scale MEA brings challenges in power consumption, data transmission, storage, and neural signal processing. This research aims to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of MEA, reduce the cost and time of large‐scale MEA customization through cascading, and reduce the bandwidth of large‐scale MEA through spike compression. Firstly, based on in‐pixel spike detection, a row‐based neural spike readout mechanism and related array circuit to improve the neural spike readout performance and temporal resolution of neural signal acquisition is proposed. To further enhance the spatial resolution and reduce the risk of large‐scale MEA fabrication, the cascading capability of the readout circuit is explored. Lastly, spatial correlation‐based neural spike encoding is proposed to reduce the data bandwidth, achieving a 5.2× compression rate. This is a study on implementing large‐scale MEA through cascaded readout circuits and novel study to utilize the spatial correlation between detected neural spikes for further compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decoding of spatial information from place cells is currently limited to individual brain regions, severely constraining the understanding of the brain's spatial navigation mechanisms. In this study, synchronized detection of dual‐brain region spatial encoding was conducted using brain–computer interface (BCI). Therefore, an implantable microelectrode array (MEA) was developed tailored for the simultaneous detection of neuronal activities in the CA1 of the hippocampus and the Barrel Cortex (BC) of the somatosensory cortex in rats as BCI. The MEA was improved by modifying the nanocomposite PtNP/PEDOT:PSS to improve their electrical properties (reducing impedance from 1.82 ± 0.17 MΩ to 3.4 ± 0.3 kΩ), facilitating neural recordings in freely behaving rats. The neural activities were obtained from the CA1 and the BC simultaneously and validated the existence of place cells in both brain regions. This study highlighted the potential of PtNP/PEDOT:PSS‐modified MEA as BCI in concurrently detecting neural activity associated with spatial encoding in two brain regions, offering novel perspectives on the processing of tactile stimuli and the formation of cognitive maps for navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The September 2024 issue of the IETE Journal of Research contains forty papers covering various areas such as Communications, Electromagnetics, Computers and Computing, Electronic Circuits, Devices and Components, Instrumentation and Measurement, Medical Electronics, Power Electronics, and Opto-electronics. The papers discuss topics ranging from malware detection in 5G and IoT networks to the development of smart systems for antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Authors from diverse backgrounds contribute to research on advanced technologies and applications in the field of electronics and telecommunications. [Extracted from the article]

Chitin and chitosan‐based bioink for 3D‐printed flexible electronics have tremendous potential for innovation in healthcare, agriculture, the environment, and industry. This biomaterial is suitable for 3D printing because it is highly stretchable, super‐flexible, affordable, ultrathin, and lightweight. Owing to its ease of use, on‐demand manufacturing, accurate and regulated deposition, and versatility with flexible and soft functional materials, 3D printing has revolutionized free‐form construction and end‐user customization. This study examined the potential of employing chitin and chitosan‐based bioinks to build 3D‐printed flexible electronic devices and optimize bioink formulation, printing parameters, and postprocessing processes to improve mechanical and electrical properties. The exploration of 3D‐printed chitin and chitosan‐based flexible bioelectronics will open new avenues for new flexible materials for numerous industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time health monitoring and precision treatment are important in the biomedical field. Researchers have focused on unique gadgets with peculiar functions, which have emerged from the merging of electronic components with biological systems. Because implantable bioelectronics can sense bodily information or elicit bodily reactions in living creatures from sites outside the body, they are becoming helpful and promising remedies for a variety of ailments. Carbon materials are more suitable than other materials for the manufacture of implantable medical electronics due to their excellent biocompatibility, fatigue resistance, and low specific gravity. Therefore, carbon materials can apply to a wide range of implantable drug delivery devices, biosensors, therapeutic stimulators, and energy storage and play irreplaceable roles in neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and locomotor systems, among others. This review aims to offer researchers insight into carbon-based implantable bioelectronics in the biomedical field. Initially, various types of carbon materials were introduced. Subsequently, it delves into carbon-based implantable bioelectronics from four perspectives: implantable actuators, biosensors, drug delivery systems, and power supplies. Furthermore, we anticipate the future direction and potential applications of carbon-based implantable bioelectronics. Given the evolving field of nanotechnology and bioelectronics, we are optimistic that these devices will foster significant breakthroughs and innovations in the biomedical sector. Ultimately, this review aims to assist researchers in navigating the choices and directions of carbon-based implantable bioelectronics, thereby promoting the advancement of the biomedical field and contributing positively to the health and welfare of humankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The careful arrangement of nanomaterials (NMs) holds promise for revolutionizing various fields, from electronics and biosensing to medicine and optics. This review delves into the intricacies of nano-assembly (NA) techniques, focusing on oriented-assembly methodologies and stimuli-dependent approaches. The introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the significance and potential applications of NA, setting the stage for review. The oriented-assembly section elucidates methodologies for the precise alignment and organization of NMs, crucial for achieving desired functionalities. The subsequent section delves into stimuli-dependent techniques, categorizing them into chemical and physical stimuli-based approaches. Chemical stimuli-based self-assembly methods, including solvent, acid–base, biomolecule, metal ion, and gas-induced assembly, are discussed in detail by presenting examples. Additionally, physical stimuli such as light, magnetic fields, electric fields, and temperature are examined for their role in driving self-assembly processes. Looking ahead, the review outlines futuristic scopes and perspectives in NA, highlighting emerging trends and potential breakthroughs. Finally, concluding remarks summarize key findings and underscore the significance of NA in shaping future technologies. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, offering insights into the diverse methodologies and potential applications of NA in interdisciplinary research fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes compact, highly sensitive, and stable diamond quantum sensors for a wide range of applications, including biomedical and energy electronics. For enhanced sensitivity and alignment precision within the objective field, a high‐quality, (111)‐oriented 12C‐enriched chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond, featuring a nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) axis in the (111) direction, is employed as the sensor. To increase the fluorescence collection efficiency, the laser beam is irradiated from the side surface of the CVD diamond, and fluorescence is detected using a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) lens. The floor noise level of the magnetic field signal is 44 pT/Hz0.5. An Allan deviation of 1.2 pT over 1000 s of averaging demonstrates stability. This is attributable to the integration of a balancing circuit to cancel out laser noise, alongside mechanisms to compensate for temperature fluctuations and a copper housing to shield against electromagnetic field noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest edition of the IETE Journal of Research, Volume 70, Number 8, August 2024, contains forty-six articles organized by subject, covering advancements in communications, electromagnetics, computers, control engineering, electronic circuits, instrumentation, medical electronics, and power electronics. The articles explore topics such as spectrum hole detection in IoT networks, acoustic analysis of indigenous languages, D2D self-organization in IoT, leaky wave antennas for V2V communications, and energy-efficient clustering algorithms for WSNs. The journal also features research on MIMO antennas, fault diagnosis in induction motors, and smart irrigation systems using IoT and machine learning. [Extracted from the article]

Strategies for synthesis and processing of silicone rubber materials in three-dimensional (3D) structures are of significant interest based on their exceptional potential in many applications including flexible electronics and biomedical devices. Here, we present a synthetic approach of crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) exhibiting dynamic siloxane bond exchange for sufficient stress relaxation capability to enable versatile processabilities including reprocessing, remolding, self-healing, and hot-melt extrusion 3D printing. Considering the significant potential of recyclable silicone materials and their 3D structures, presented approaches enabled by dynamic exchangeable PDMS can provide a new pathway to replace conventional unrecyclable silicone used in diverse industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This critical review study focuses on the integration of nanofluids with microfluidic channels. This emerging field, which combines nanotechnology and microfluidics, has the potential to transform the control of temperatures and monitoring completely. Nanofluids, which are fluids containing nanoparticles like metals or oxides, greatly improve the heat management capabilities of base fluids. These materials are highly efficient in transferring and conducting heat, making them ideal for applications such as cooling electronics and medical diagnostics. The addition of nanofluids to microfluidic routes, typically measured in micrometers, greatly simplifies fluid flow and heat transfer regulation. The article includes several research studies demonstrating how nanofluids enhance the performance of microfluidic systems compared to conventional fluids. The benefits are examined, including the potential for reduced size and increased energy efficiency of heat exchanges and cooling systems. As a result, these technologies are better suited for implementation in the healthcare and industry sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and spinel ferrites (SFs) composites enhance their properties and enable multifunctional applications, ranging from electronics to environmental and biomedical fields. This study investigates the Ni 0.4 Cd 0.6 Fe 2 O 4 /x-GNPs (x = 0 %, 2.5 %, and 5 %) [ NCF/0%GNPs, NCF/2.5%GNPs, and NCF/5%GNPs ] composites prepared via sol-gel auto combustion (SGAC) synthesis and their enhanced magneto-dielectric characteristics. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a single-phase spinel matrix of NCF/GNPs composites and observed that the crystallite size (D) was enhanced from 22.8 nm to 33.6 nm with the increasing concentration of GNPs. Moreover, the bandgap energy (E g) was reduced with the incorporation of GNPs in the NCF sample. The dielectric constant and tangent loss were enhanced with the addition of GNPs in the NCF spinel lattice. The saturation magnetization and microwave operating frequency were reduced from 97.42 emu/g to 55.13 emu/g and 21.49 GHz–11.97 GHz, respectively, while the coercivity was observed to increase from 92.66 Oe to 263 Oe with the incorporation of GNPs in the NCF lattice. The study highlights the potential of NCF/GNPs composites for applications in electronics, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical devices. [Display omitted] • Sol-gel auto-combustion synthesis of NCF/GNPs composites. • Single-phase spinel matrix NCF/GNPs composites were observed via XRD. • The bandgap energy was reduced with the incorporation of GNPs. • The magnetic and dielectric properties were enhanced with the addition of GNPs. • The potential of NCF/GNPs composites for applications in electronics, energy storage, sensors, and biomedical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The July 2024 issue of the IETE Journal of Research contains forty-seven articles across various fields, including communications, electromagnetics, computers and computing, control engineering, electronic circuits, devices, and components, instrumentation and measurement, medical electronics, and power electronics. The articles explore new developments and research in these areas, showcasing innovative approaches and technologies. The issue features contributions from experts in the field, providing valuable insights and advancements in diverse research topics. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the performance of piezoresistive pressure sensors using polysilicon as the piezoresistive material, which is typically used to measure pressure in high-temperature environments. Design/methodology/approach: The performance of this sensor is enhanced by studying the influence of multi-turn configuration at which the piezoresistors are arranged. Different configurations are studied and compared by laying down their analytical solution. Findings: The validation of analytical results is accomplished through finite element analysis using the software COMSOL Multiphysics. The best configuration, which uses a partial triple-turn configuration, was able to achieve a sensitivity of 116.00 mV/V/MPa over a simulated pressure range of 0 to 500 KPa. Originality/value: The literature shows the study of single-turn and double-turn meander-shaped configuration of micro-electromechanical systems piezoresistive pressure sensor but multi-turn meander-shaped configuration using a square silicon diaphragm has not been reported. Its study has reflected promising results than its counterparts based on key performance parameters such as sensitivity and linearity and are more effective to be used for automotive, aviation, biomedical and consumer electronics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring heart rate is a critical component of assessing cardiac health and detecting potential heart diseases at an early stage. Various sensors, including electrocardiogram and photoplethysmograph, are commonly employed for this purpose. However, these conventional methods necessitate direct contact with the patient's skin which may be impractical or uncomfortable in situations involving patients with skin diseases or burn injuries. To address these limitations, a concerted effort has been to develop non‐contact methods leveraging frequency‐modulated continuous‐wave multiple‐input multiple‐output radar systems. Recent studies have illustrated the sensitivity of the phase component of received signals to micro‐motion, presenting a promising avenue for effective heart rate estimation. However, existing literature predominantly focuses on single‐antenna setups, overlooking the potential benefits offered by multiple‐input multiple‐output systems, which provide diverse channels with varying precision levels. This correspondence introduces a novel phase extraction model grounded in the argument of the analytic signal derived from both in‐phase and quadrature channels. Furthermore, leveraging the normal equation, we establish the feasibility of optimizing weights assigned to individual virtual antennas to achieve a robust approximation of ground truth data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the field of gynecology as time advances, various emerging treatment modalities occupy the space in the field of reproductive and cosmetic gynecology after many years of research and after doing various randomized trials in recent 20-30 years. Among these therapies, some modalities of treatment that came under minimal invasive therapies include fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy which uses fractional beams of light to cause effects on the epithelium, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy which acts locally as a regenerative mechanism, and energy-based radiofrequency therapy which uses the effect of thermal energy to treat various epithelial lesions are emerging nowadays. The treatment depends upon patients' profile, acceptance, and affordability but these therapies have better patient compliance. Conclusion: The minimally invasive therapies have a shorter duration of treatment, quick recovery time, long-lasting effects, and better patient compliance with few side effects. So, it is time to switch over to these therapies rather than conventional treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials are the key to the success of cutting-edge monitoring and diagnostics systems enabled by flexible electronics that are revolutionizing healthcare systems. Among them, layered 2D-based materials with exceptional qualities including high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, thermal stability, and optical adaptability stand out. These include graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides. This comprehensive examination covers the fabrication and characterisation of these nanomaterials, as well as their immense potential for usage in flexible electronics for biomedical applications. The layered 2D-based nanomaterials have changed the face of healthcare technology by providing examples ranging from wearable health monitoring devices to implantable sensors. This has improved both device performance and user experience. There are many difficulties including biocompatibility and long-term stability while simultaneously addressing moral and legal issues, highlighting the significance of responsible technology development in this game-changing area. The extraordinary characteristics of layered 2D-based nanomaterials are revealed in this study, presenting them as key features in developing flexible electronics with the potential to take patient care and diagnostics to whole new levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents a wirelessly powered LED driving circuit for a smart contact lens system. Since photobiomodulation has been investigated for ocular disease treatment by irradiating light with a specific wavelength, a smart contact lens equipped with a µLED and its controller IC can be utilized as a phototherapy system. The proposed circuit design facilitates constant‐current generation to drive the LED and incorporates a wirelessly powered system. The system can be turned on and off in synchronization with an external wireless power source, providing controllability for the LED's irradiation period and intensity. The IC is fabricated in the 180‐nm CMOS process with a die area of 1.0 mm2 and integrated into the smart contact lens with an external loop antenna and a far red/NIR LED. The measurement demonstrates the irradiation period of the LED is successfully controlled by the external source, with current levels from 0.53 mA to 1.4 mA, thereby confirming the feasibility of the phototherapy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the dielectric properties of conductive biocomposites (CBs), which are integral to the development of advanced materials for flexible electronics and medical devices. A novel method employing Microwave Reflectometry (MR) is introduced, utilizing a miniaturized Vector Network Analyzer (m-VNA) and a dedicated sensing element (SE), to extract the dielectric properties of CBs. The method is grounded in a minimization principle, aligning the measured S 11 reflection scattering parameter with its electromagnetic (EM) simulation, facilitating a refined process for determining the dielectric properties. The experimental setup was meticulously engineered, optimized, and validated using reference dielectric samples (RDSs) with known dielectric properties. The method was then applied to three innovative CBs, resulting in an accurate extrapolation of their dielectric properties. The findings highlight the method's versatility, cost-efficiency, and applicability to ultra-thin and flexible biopolymer films, offering significant potential for advancements in flexible electronics and bio-sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) holds significant promise for various applications in fields ranging from medicine to electronics. Accurately predicting the particle size during synthesis is crucial for optimizing the properties and performance of these nanoparticles. In this study, we compare the efficacy of tree-based models compared with the existing models, for predicting the particle size in silver nanoparticle synthesis. The study investigates the influence of input features, such as reaction parameters, precursor concentrations, etc., on the predictive performance of each model type. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of modeling techniques for nanoparticle synthesis and underscores the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies for accurate particle size prediction, thereby facilitating the optimization of synthesis processes and enhancing the effectiveness of silver nanoparticle-based applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general requirement of replacing petroleum-derived plastics with renewable resources is particularly challenging for new technologies such as the additive manufacturing of photocurable resins. In this work, the influence of mono- and bifunctional reactive diluents on the printability and performance of resins based on acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was explored. Polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylates of different molecular weights were selected as diluents based on the viscosity and mechanical properties of their binary mixtures with AESO. Ternary mixtures containing 60% AESO, polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (PEG200DMA) further improved the mechanical properties, water resistance and printability of the resin. Specifically, the terpolymer AESO/PEG575/PEG200DMA 60/20/20 (wt.%) improved the modulus (16% increase), tensile strength (63% increase) and %deformation at the break (21% increase), with respect to pure AESO. The enhancement of the printability provided by the reactive diluents was proven by Jacobs working curves and the improved accuracy of printed patterns. The proposed formulation, with a biorenewable carbon content of 67%, can be used as the matrix of innovative resins with unrestricted applicability in the electronics and biomedical fields. However, much effort must be done to increase the array of bio-based raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive hydrogels (CHs) have received significant attention for use in wearable devices because they retain their softness and flexibility while maintaining high conductivity. CHs are well suited for applications in skin‐contact electronics and biomedical devices owing to their high biocompatibility and conformality. Although highly conductive hydrogels for smart wearable devices are extensively researched, a detailed summary of the outstanding results of CHs is required for a comprehensive understanding. In this review, the recent progress in the preparation and fabrication of CHs is summarized for smart wearable devices. Improvements in the mechanical, electrical, and functional properties of high‐performance wearable devices are also discussed. Furthermore, recent examples of innovative and highly functional devices based on CHs that can be seamlessly integrated into daily lives are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current intraoperative pressure monitoring methods still face significant limitations in perception and feedback, struggling to strike a balance between precision and wearable flexibility. Inspired by biological skin, we propose a biomimetic tactile sensing system for pressure monitoring during extracorporeal circulation, comprising flexible pressure sensors and artificial synaptic transistors. Aimed at addressing the aforementioned issues, our system employs a pyramid-shaped elastic design for flexible pressure sensors, utilizing biocompatible materials polydimethylsiloxane and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the strain-sensitive layer. This configuration boasts ultra-high sensitivity and resolution (115 kPa−1), accurately detecting subtle pressure changes, such as blood circulation wall pressures. With artificial synaptic transistors as the information processing core, our system successfully simulates crucial neural processing functions, including excitatory post-synaptic currents and double-pulse facilitation, while providing alerts for abnormal blood pressure signals. This system facilitates real-time data processing at the device edge, reducing power consumption, improving efficiency, and better addressing the demands of large-scale physiological pressure data processing. It presents a significant reference for future developments in biomedical electronics and bionics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents the design of a 13.56 MHz offset‐enhanced full‐wave active rectifier, tailored for wirelessly powered biomedical implants. The design incorporates digitally assisted, delay‐compensated active diodes and symmetrical bulk biasing in the rectifier core to enhance conduction time, thus improving the voltage conversion ratio (VCR) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). A delay improvement is achieved both in no‐load and high‐load conditions through an additional comparison path with an offset voltage that is higher than zero. The proposed rectifier is implemented and fabricated in a 180 nm CMOS technology with an area of 0.024 mm2$\text{mm}^{\text{2}}$. The rectifier, tested and measured with inductive links, offers a maximum VCR of 96.4% and a maximum PCE of 89%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Securing Electronic Medical Records for Healthcare 4.0 is one of the prime requirements in the medical care service domains. Healthcare 4.0 refers to the evolution process of healthcare systems that leverage digital technologies, connectivity, and data-driven insights to provide more personalized and efficient care. With the increasing adoption of electronic healthcare records and the growing importance of data in the healthcare sector, ensuring the privacy of patient data becomes paramount. To ensuring the security for healthcare 4.0 in the current work a voice authentication-based system is devised. This enables the protection of electronic healthcare records (EHRs) in the association of healthcare 4.0. More precisely here the voice authentication is used as an additional layer of security for accessing and managing EHRs. The Voice authentication can also be categorized as the voice biometric. This is a technology that uses unique voice characteristics and patterns to verify the identity of individuals. The result establishes the innovative smart security arrangement for the Healthcare 4.0 using the voice authentication-based identity management infrastructure; and a modified version of asymmetric cryptosystem has been used inside the blockchain. The simulation outcome indicates better performance in the form of block generation time, block number, ensure the transaction, and minimize the latency of the transaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study multifunctional wearable bioelectronics (MWBs) integrated with a piezoelectric sensor and a micropatterned temperature sensor for accurate detection of human physiological signals. Piezoelectric nanocomposite uniformity, stretchability, and adhesion is improved through the functionalization of nanoparticles with glycidyl silane and nonionic surfactants dispersion in the organic polymer matrix. Additionally, crack‐free nanometal layers are deposited on the nanocomposite interface with high adhesion by thiol silane functionalization and oxygen plasma treatment. The MWBs exhibit a temperature sensitivity of 7.1 Ω °C−1 (R2 of 0.999) between 30 °C to 40 °C, a pressure sensitivity of 72 mV kPa−1 (R2 of 0.998) within 0.5 kPa to 10 kPa, and a stable mechanical durability. MWBs have demonstrated to detect subtle pulse waveforms at an arm‐mimicking phantom and human skin, respectively. Furthermore, MWBs are applied to analyze physiological signal characteristics caused by human stress, demonstrating its potential for use in healthcare electronics in various medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As implantable medical electronics (IMEs) developed for healthcare monitoring and biomedical therapy are extensively explored and deployed clinically, the demand for non‐invasive implantable biomedical electronics is rapidly surging. Current rigid and bulky implantable microelectronic power sources are prone to immune rejection and incision, or cannot provide enough energy for long‐term use, which greatly limits the development of miniaturized implantable medical devices. Herein, a comprehensive review of the historical development of IMEs and the applicable miniaturized power sources along with their advantages and limitations is given. Despite recent advances in microfabrication techniques, biocompatible materials have facilitated the development of IMEs system toward non‐invasive, ultra‐flexible, bioresorbable, wireless and multifunctional, progress in the development of minimally invasive power sources in implantable systems has remained limited. Here three promising minimally invasive power sources summarized, including energy storage devices (biodegradable primary batteries, rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors), human body energy harvesters (nanogenerators and biofuel cells) and wireless power transfer (far‐field radiofrequency radiation, near‐field wireless power transfer, ultrasonic and photovoltaic power transfer). The energy storage and energy harvesting mechanism, configurational design, material selection, output power and in vivo applications are also discussed. It is expected to give a comprehensive understanding of the minimally invasive power sources driven IMEs system for painless health monitoring and biomedical therapy with long‐term stable functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, key component of water-purifying equipment, is often stored in protection fluid containing substances such as glycerol, which may contaminate the water at replacement. This study aims to explore the effects of RO membrane replacement on clinical chemistry and immunoassay, particularly triglyceride (TG), providing reference for managing test interference caused by RO membrane replacement. Materials and methods: The RO membrane of water-purifying equipment A, which provided water to C16000 biochemistry analyzer (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, USA) and E801 electrochemiluminescence analyzer (Roche, Basel, Switzerland), was replaced. Water resistivity was recorded, and quality control (QC) tests were performed on C16000 and E801. Moreover, TG was measured in 29 of selected serum samples on C16000 at 0.5h and 10.5h after RO membrane replacement and on reference biochemistry analyzer BS2000M (Mindray Biomedical Electronics Co., Shenzhen, China), which was connected to water-purifying equipment B without RO membrane replacement. Finally, blank, calibrator 1 and calibrator 2 of TG reagent were measured on C16000 before and at 0.5h, 2.5h and 10.5h after RO membrane replacement. All statistical analyses of data were done using GraphPad Prism (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, USA), and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: After RO membrane replacement, all QC results of clinical chemistry and immune tests passed except TG that showed positive bias of 536% and 371% at two levels, respectively. Moreover, TG results of the same serum samples were significantly higher at 0.5h than 10.5h after RO membrane replacement. Meanwhile, there was worse agreement and correlation of TG results between C16000 and BS2000M at 0.5h than 10.5h after replacement. Furthermore, the absorbance of TG blank, calibrator 1 and calibrator 2 was significantly higher at 0.5h and 2.5h after replacement than before replacement, and the absorbance gradually returned to normal value at 10.5h after replacement. Conclusions: Replacement of RO membrane could cause significant interference to TG test while have no effects on other laboratory tests performed in the study, which may be due to glycerol contamination. Our data provides important reference for management of test interference caused by RO membrane replacement. Clinical laboratory should observe the effects of RO membrane replacement on laboratory tests through both water quality monitoring and QC detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Getting highly accurate output in biomedical data processing concerning biomedical signals and images is impossible because biomedical data are generated from various electronic and electrical resources that can deliver the data with noise. Filtering is widely used for signal and image processing applications in medical, multimedia, communications, biomedical electronics, and computer vision. The biggest problem in biomedical signal and image processing is developing a perfect filter for the system. Digital filters are more advanced in precision and stability than analog filters. Digital filters are getting more attention due to the increasing advancements in digital technologies. Hence, most medical image and signal processing techniques use digital filters for preprocessing tasks. This paper briefly explains various filters used in medical image and signal processing. Matlab is a famous mathematical, analytical software with a platform and built-in tools to design filters and experiment with different inputs. Even though this paper implements filters like, Mean, Median, Weighted Average, Guassian, and Bilateral in Python to verify their performance, a suitable filter can be selected for biomedical applications by comparing their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intersection of biomedicine and radio frequency (RF) engineering has fundamentally transformed self-health monitoring by leveraging soft and wearable electronic devices. This paradigm shift presents a critical challenge, requiring these devices and systems to possess exceptional flexibility, biocompatibility, and functionality. To meet these requirements, traditional electronic systems, such as sensors and antennas made from rigid and bulky materials, must be adapted through material science and schematic design. Notably, in recent years, extensive research efforts have focused on this field, and this review article will concentrate on recent advancements. We will explore the traditional/emerging materials for highly flexible and electrically efficient wearable electronics, followed by systematic designs for improved functionality and performance. Additionally, we will briefly overview several remarkable applications of wearable electronics in biomedical sensing. Finally, we provide an outlook on potential future directions in this developing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to synthesize and characterize PVDF/CB (polyvinylidene fluoride/carbon block) nanofiber composites for flexible, wearable electronic applications. Nanofibers were produced by electrospinning method and used to produce thin films. Fiber surface morphologies were investigated by FE-SEM and HR-TEM, crystalline structures by FT-IR and P-XRD, and thermal characteristics by TGA and DSC. The prepared materials are thermally stable up to 390 °C. Mechanical properties were ascertained using tensile characteristics, and results showed that the addition of carbon black (CB) powder to PVDF polymer solution decreased Young's modulus values and reduced the dielectric constant of PVDF nanofiber films. The obtained dielectric constants of nanofibers loaded with various concentrations of CB were found from 1.4 to 2.0. Flexible electronics materials are essential for the production of wearable electronics and various biomedical engineering applications. The PVDF/CB nanofibers containing 1% showed maximum Young's moduli of 101.29 ± 15.94. Nanofiber thin films offer various advantages, including simplicity of manufacture, low power consumption, flexibility, and exceptional stability, all of which are crucial for flexible, wearable device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: An efficient moist-electric generator with ultra-fast electric response to moisture is achieved by triggering Grotthuss protons hopping in the moisture-electric–moisture-sensitive heterostructure. The moist-electric generator produces a quick response (0.435 s), an unprecedented ultra-fast response rate of 972.4 mV s−1 to alternating moisture stimulation and stable output for 8 h. An obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome diagnostic system based on a moist-electric generator was developed to monitor hypopnea and apnea in real time and successfully diagnose them with early warning. Moisture-enabled electricity (ME) is a method of converting the potential energy of water in the external environment into electrical energy through the interaction of functional materials with water molecules and can be directly applied to energy harvesting and signal expression. However, ME can be unreliable in numerous applications due to its sluggish response to moisture, thus sacrificing the value of fast energy harvesting and highly accurate information representation. Here, by constructing a moisture-electric–moisture-sensitive (ME-MS) heterostructure, we develop an efficient ME generator with ultra-fast electric response to moisture achieved by triggering Grotthuss protons hopping in the sensitized ZnO, which modulates the heterostructure built-in interfacial potential, enables quick response (0.435 s), an unprecedented ultra-fast response rate of 972.4 mV s−1, and a durable electrical signal output for 8 h without any attenuation. Our research provides an efficient way to generate electricity and important insight for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of moisture-generated carrier migration in ME generator, which has a more comprehensive working scene and can serve as a typical model for human health monitoring and smart medical electronics design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS)-based pressure sensors operating on the principle of piezoresistivity have found profound application in various fields like automobile, aerospace, aviation, biomedical and consumer electronics. Various research studies have been conducted to optimize the design of MEMS-based pressure sensors to meet specific requirements of different fields. Modification in the structure of the piezoresistors placed on these sensors has shown great effect in this regard. However, most of these improvements have been validated through fabrication and measurement, but there has been a lack of significant studies developing analytical models to explain these improvements. This paper studies the performance of a single-turn piezoresistor design on a square silicon diaphragm. The analytical model relates the dimensions of the single-turn piezoresistor on a square diaphragm to the output voltage, and hence, sensor sensitivity is laid out. The correctness of the relation is also validated through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Hence, an optimized single-turn design is presented which achieves a sensitivity of 203.57 mV/V/MPa over a pressure range of 0–1 MPa. These results are then compared to work from existing literature. The comparison shows an improved performance which was achieved by optimizing the design through its derived analytical model. The proposed sensor can be utilized in disposable blood pressure measurement system where high sensor sensitivity is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane and polyurea-based adhesives are widely used in various applications, from automotive to electronics and medical applications. The adhesive performance depends strongly on its composition, and developing the formulation–structure–property relationship is crucial to making better products. Here, we investigate the dependence of the linear viscoelastic properties of polyurea nanocomposites, with an IPDI-based polyurea (PUa) matrix and exfoliated graphene nanoplatelet (xGnP) fillers, on the hard-segment weight fraction (HSWF) and the xGnP loading. We characterize the material using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It is found that changing the HSWF leads to a significant variation in the stiffness of the material, from about 10 MPa for 20% HSWF to about 100 MPa for 30% HSWF and about 250 MPa for the 40% HSWF polymer (as measured by the tensile storage modulus at room temperature). The effect of the xGNP loading was significantly more limited and was generally within experimental error, except for the 20% HSWF material, where the xGNP addition led to about an 80% increase in stiffness. To correctly interpret the DMA results, we developed a new physics-based rheological model for the description of the storage and loss moduli. The model is based on the fractional calculus approach and successfully describes the material rheology in a broad range of temperatures (−70 °C–+70 °C) and frequencies (0.1–100 s−1), using only six physically meaningful fitting parameters for each material. The results provide guidance for the development of nanocomposite PUa-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The promising field of organic electronics has ushered in a new era of biosensing technology, thus offering a promising frontier for applications in both medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of organic electronics' remarkable progress and potential in biosensing applications. It explores the multifaceted aspects of organic materials and devices, thereby highlighting their unique advantages, such as flexibility, biocompatibility, and low-cost fabrication. The paper delves into the diverse range of biosensors enabled by organic electronics, including electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, and thermal sensors, thus showcasing their versatility in detecting biomolecules, pathogens, and environmental pollutants. Furthermore, integrating organic biosensors into wearable devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is discussed, wherein they offer real-time, remote, and personalized monitoring solutions. The review also addresses the current challenges and future prospects of organic biosensing, thus emphasizing the potential for breakthroughs in personalized medicine, environmental sustainability, and the advancement of human health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and stretchable materials have attracted significant interest in wearable electronics and bioengineering fields. Recent developments also incorporate embedded microwave circuits and systems with engineered flexible materials that operate over a broad frequency range (≈1–100 GHz). Herein, a simple flip‐chip technique is used to evaluate frequency‐dependent electromagnetic properties of flexible materials and applied to evaluate engineered microwave absorbers based on self‐biased barium hexaferrite composites. On‐wafer error correction and de‐embedding techniques are applied to determine broadband electromagnetic properties of the material‐loaded transmission lines by placing the materials on top of coplanar waveguide transmission lines. Finite‐element simulations along with broadband measurements were employed to estimate the electromagnetic material properties. To demonstrate, flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites are fabricated with barium hexaferrite nanoparticles and complex permittivity and permeability of the composites are quantified under zero magnetic field bias up to 110 GHz. Frequency‐dependent composite permeability is fitted to models describing the ferromagnetic resonance of the self‐biased barium hexaferrite nanoparticles in polydimethylsiloxane, and constituent nanoparticle properties are estimated using the Maxwell–Garnett mixing model. This study paves the way to exploit a wide range of engineered materials in flexible, wearable, and biomedical electronics applications and presents a convenient methodology to extract important broadband electromagnetic properties of nanoparticles for customized electromagnetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discoveries of two-dimensional (2D) materials, exemplified by the recent entry of MXene, have ushered in a new era of multifunctional materials for applications from electronics to biomedical sensors due to their superior combination of mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. MXene, for example, can be designed for specialized applications using a plethora of element combinations and surface termination layers, making them attractive for highly optimized multifunctional composites. Although multiple critical engineering applications demand that such composites balance specialized functions with mechanical demands, the current knowledge of the mechanical performance and optimized traits necessary for such composite design is severely limited. In response to this pressing need, this paper critically reviews structure–function connections for highly mineralized 2D natural composites, such as nacre and exoskeletal of windowpane oysters, to extract fundamental bioinspired design principles that provide pathways for multifunctional 2D-based engineered systems. This paper highlights key bioinspired design features, including controlling flake geometry, enhancing interface interlocks, and utilizing polymer interphases, to address the limitations of the current design. Challenges in processing, such as flake size control and incorporating interlocking mechanisms of tablet stitching and nanotube forest, are discussed along with alternative potential solutions, such as roughened interfaces and surface waviness. Finally, this paper discusses future perspectives and opportunities, including bridging the gap between theory and practice with multiscale modeling and machine learning design approaches. Overall, this review underscores the potential of bioinspired design for engineered 2D composites while acknowledging the complexities involved and providing valuable insights for researchers and engineers in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates three reliable methods to connect neural stimulation, recording, and modulating technologies to thin film softening bioelectronic devices. These softening devices are manufactured on thiol-based shape memory polymers (SMPs) with photolithographic techniques including gold traces and high charge injection capacity titanium nitride (TiN) electrodes. The charge storage capacity and electrochemical performance of the fabricated devices were compared when interconnected using three different interface methods: surface mounting, ultra-thin chips (UTC), and through-hole substrate etching. Cathodal charge storage capacities above 8 mC/cm2 are demonstrated while maintaining average impedances less than 1 kΩ at 1 kHz for each interconnect technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the proposed "TransitionOmeter" framework for young individuals transitioning to adult healthcare services. The framework aims to enhance capabilities and facilitate successful transitions by aligning resources and utilizing electronic health records. However, the study acknowledges limitations such as small sample sizes and the need for further research to validate the framework's effectiveness in diverse healthcare settings. Recommendations include expanding the framework's use in different settings, conducting pilot tests, and collaborating with healthcare providers and technology partners to develop digital tools to support the transition process. [Extracted from the article]

Compared to traditional methods, three/four-dimensional (3D/4D) printing technologies allow rapid prototyping and mass customization, which are ideal for preparing nano/microstructures of soft polymer materials. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer material widely used in additive manufacturing (AM) because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Unfortunately, owing to its intrinsically poor nucleation ability, a PLA product is usually in an amorphous state after industrial processing, leading to some undesirable properties such as a barrier property and low thermal resistance. Crystallization mediation offers a most practical way to improve the properties of PLA products. Herein, we summarize and discuss 3D/4D printing technologies in the processing of PLA nano/microstructures, focusing on crystallization principles and practical applications including bio-inspired structures, flexible electronics and biomedical engineering mainly reported in the last five years. Moreover, the challenges and prospects of 3D/4D printing technologies in the fabrication of high-performance PLA materials nano/microstructures will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]