Integrated internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistors for stand-alone conformable bioelectronics

TL;DR

Researchers developed a fully organic, wireless, and flexible bioelectronic device that can process and transmit brain signals without relying on silicon-based technologies.

Contribution

A stand-alone, conformable, fully organic bioelectronic device with high-speed and integration capabilities is introduced.

Findings

The vIGT transistors enable megahertz-range operation in dense arrays without crosstalk.

The device demonstrated long-term stability in physiologic media and was used to create high-performance circuits.

The device was successfully implanted in rodents to acquire and transmit neurophysiologic signals wirelessly.

Abstract

Organic electronics can be biocompatible and conformable, enhancing the ability to interface with tissue. However, the limitations of speed and integration have, thus far, necessitated reliance on silicon-based technologies for advanced processing, data transmission and device powering. Here we create a stand-alone, conformable, fully organic bioelectronic device capable of realizing these functions. This device, vertical internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistor (vIGT), is based on a transistor architecture that incorporates a vertical channel and a miniaturized hydration access conduit to enable megahertz-signal-range operation within densely packed integrated arrays in the absence of crosstalk. These transistors demonstrated long-term stability in physiologic media, and were used to generate high-performance integrated circuits. We leveraged the high-speed and low-voltage operation of vertical internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistors to develop alternating-current-powered conformable circuitry to acquire and wirelessly communicate signals. The resultant stand-alone device was implanted in freely moving rodents to acquire, process and transmit neurophysiologic brain signals. Such fully organic devices have the potential to expand the utility and accessibility of bioelectronics to a wide range of clinical and societal applications.

Organic electronic devices enhance biocompatibility, but have to rely on silicon-based technologies to improve limited speed and integration. This problem is overcome by creating a stand-alone, wireless, conformable, fully organic bioelectronic device with high electronic performance, scalability, stability and conformability in physiologic media.

Figures