Bio-integrated
Electronics Lab
Research
Core research area
Extreme mechanics
Embedded system
Heterogeneous materials
Bio-compatible interface
Bio-inspired design
Why Bio-integrated Electronics?
Conventional robotic technologies hold many promises to advance disease diagnosis and therapeutic research by enabling precise sensing and actuation in small-scale, leading to implantable, portable, or even wearable biomedical systems. These medical devices interfaced with our body are rigid, bulky, and remains permanently. Biological organs and systems, however, are soft and curvilinear, time-dynamic. To bridge this gap we are challenging to create soft robotics that provides intimate, minimally invasive, electrically stand-alone, and biocompatible interfaces with the human body so that people cannot feel the existence of the device.
Extreme mechanics
study mechanics of materials, composite theory, finite element analysis to build unusual structures which exhibit extreme mechanical behaviors such as bending, stretching, twisting, buckling.
Kyung-In Jang et al., Ferromagnetic, folded electrode composite as a soft interface to the skin for long-term electrophysiological recording, Advanced Functional Materials 26 (2016) 7281-7290.
Embedded systems
study stand-alone systems which can detect raw biological signals, analyze the data, and wirelessly transmit useful health information to external devices such as personal cell phone.
Kyung-In Jang et al., Self-assembled, three dimensional designs for soft electronics, Nature Communications (In Press).
Heterogeneous materials
study novel approaches to integrate physically, electrically, mechanically, chemically different materials into a single system to provide unique functions required in biomedical applications.
Kyung-In Jang et al., Rugged and breathable forms of stretchable electronics with adherent composite substrates for transcutaneous monitoring, Nature Communications 5 (2014) 4779.
Bio-compatible interfaces
study functional interfaces which can have intimate contacts with a biological cell network or even living organs, seamlessly monitor biophysiological/biochemical activities and stimuli the target as a feedback.
Lizhi Xu et al, 3D Multifunctional Integumentary Membranes for Spatiotemporal Measurement/Stimulation Across the Entire Epicardium, Nature Communications 5 (2014) 3329.
Bio-inspired designs
study bio-inspired design which unifies the life sciences with engineering and the physical sciences. Our biologically inspired design involves exploration into the way that living cells, tissues, and organisms build, control, manufacture, recycle, and adapt to their environment.
Kyung-In Jang et al, Soft Network Composite Materials with Deterministic, Bio-Inspired Designs, Nature Communications 6 (2015) 6566.