# Multiscale Engineering of Ion‐Conducting Gels for Sustainable Bioelectronic Systems

## TL;DR

This paper reviews strategies to design ion-conducting gels for durable, flexible bioelectronics that work well in the body.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a unified multiscale approach combining material, device, and system-level innovations for bioelectronic gels.

## Key findings

- Material engineering enables precise control over ion mobility and mechanical properties.
- Device-level integration ensures stable ionic-electronic coupling under deformation.
- Closed-loop systems using these gels enable reconfigurable bioelectronic functions.

## Abstract

Ion‐conducting gels are indispensable for bioelectronics, offering softness, high ionic conductivity, and biocompatibility. Nevertheless, sustaining robust performance under physiological conditions demands moving beyond isolated material or device innovations to a unified, multiscale design approach. At the material level, advances in polymer network engineering enable precise tuning of ion mobility, retention, and electrochemical stability, while simultaneously imparting mechanical toughness, hydration preservation, and self‐healing. At the device level, these gels are tailored for seamless electrode integration, ensuring high signal fidelity, low impedance, and stable ionic–electronic coupling under deformation. When integrated into closed‐loop architectures encompassing biosignal acquisition, signal processing, and feedback control, ion‐conducting gels evolve from passive conductors into active, reconfigurable elements within autonomous diagnostic and therapeutic systems. This review highlights the critical interplay of material design, device integration, and system‐level engineering in advancing long‐lived, sustainable bioelectronic technologies.

This review highlights multiscale engineering strategies for ion‐conducting gels aimed at achieving sustainable bioelectronic systems. It systematically examines material‐level, device‐level, and system‐level approaches to ensure long‐term stability and functional integrity under physiological conditions, integrating molecular design, device engineering, and system architecture into a unified roadmap for next‐generation wearable and implantable bioelectronics.