Yuanwen Jiang

Directly coupling ionic fluxes to volumetric electronic transduction, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) emulate ion-based natural signalling mechanisms and blur the boundary between abiotic electronics and living systems. However, uncontrolled water infiltration into mixed ionic–electronic (semi)conductors slows their response and compromises operational stability in physiological environments. Here, inspired by cell membranes, which precisely regulate ion and water transport through a spatially segregated dual architecture, we develop a supramolecular artificial ion-channel material. Comprising hydrogen-bonded crown ether stacks assembled within a fluorinated polymer matrix, the resulting material combines high ionic conductivity with low water permeability. OECTs operating with the ion-channel layer exhibit simultaneously enhanced temporal response and aqueous stability. Our strategy is applicable to p-type and n-type semiconductors and maintains uniform performance in high-density transistor arrays. When implanted in the rat brain, the OECT devices achieve real-time, high-fidelity monitoring of dopamine dynamics in chronic settings. By resolving the long-standing water-instability bottleneck, our approach advances OECTs towards closed-loop adaptive modulation and biohybrid computing.

Smart digital health has reshaped patient monitoring, but it faces a fundamental trade-off between device intelligence and continuous, energy-efficient monitoring. Inspired by self-sustaining intelligent biospecies, we develop a biomimetic, battery-free, and high-precision edge-AI system through a harvested-energy-constrained holistic co-design that couples ultralow-power edge-AI-empowered sensor hardware with biomechanical energy harvesting and cold-start power management. Our edge-AI-empowered motion sensor performs instantaneous, context-aware on-device inference and timely result updating from raw sensor data while consuming only 86 μW. A high-output energy harvester and tailored high-efficiency power management circuitry sustain energy levels exceeding system requirements, eliminating downtime associated with charging and enabling true 24/7, hassle-free monitoring. This breakthrough establishes a paradigm for system-level, edge-AI-empowered, and self-sustaining sensing, demonstrating that intelligence and energy autonomy can coexist within a single wearable platform and pointing to next-generation always-on, personalized digital health systems.

Biological systems operate through a tightly regulated network of electrical, chemical, and mechanical signals; consequently, dysregulated signaling cascades underlie pathologies across nervous, immune, and oncological systems. While traditional therapeutic approaches have relied on the passive transport of active agents or invasive monitoring tools, the ability to perturb these systems with spatiotemporal precision remains a critical challenge. This review examines remotely responsive nanoplatforms that harness external energy, such as ultrasound, magnetic fields, and light, to drive localized physical stimulation and in situ chemical synthesis, thereby establishing both as promising avenues for targeted therapy.

Hydrogel-based wearable and implantable biosensors have established themselves as a paradigm-shifting platform for continuous health monitoring.

There is an increasing demand for multimodal sensing and stimulation bioelectronic fibres for both research and clinical applications^1,2. However, existing fibres suffer from high rigidity, low component layout precision, limited functionality and low density of active components. These limitations arise from the challenge of integrating many components into one-dimensional fibre devices, especially owing to the incompatibility of conventional microfabrication methods (for example, photolithography) with curved, thin and long fibre structures². As a result, limited applications have been demonstrated so far. Here we use ‘spiral transformation’ to convert two-dimensional thin films containing microfabricated devices into one-dimensional soft fibres. This approach allows for the fabrication of high-density multimodal soft bioelectronic fibres, termed Spiral-NeuroString (S-NeuroString), while enabling precise control on the longitudinal, angular and radial positioning and distribution of the functional components. Taking advantage of the biocompatibility of our soft fibres with the dynamic and soft gastrointestinal system, we proceed to show the feasibility of our S-NeuroString for post-operative multimodal continuous motility mapping and tissue stimulation in awake pigs. We further demonstrate multi-channel single-unit electrical recording in mouse brain for up to 4 months, and a fabrication capability to produce 1,280 channels within a 230-μm-diameter soft fibre. Our soft bioelectronic fibres offer a powerful platform for minimally invasive implantable electronics, where diverse sensing and stimulation functionalities can be effectively integrated.

Accurate decoding of peripheral nerve signals is essential for advancing neuroscience research, developing therapeutics for neurological disorders, and creating reliable human–machine interfaces. However, the poor mechanical compliance of conventional metal electrodes and limited generalization of existing decoding models have significantly hindered progress in understanding peripheral nerve function. This study introduces low‐impedance, soft‐conducting polymer electrodes capable of forming stable, intimate contacts with peripheral nerve tissues, allowing for continuous and reliable recording of neural activity in awake animals. Using this unique dataset of neurophysiological signals, a neural network model that integrates both handcrafted and deep learning‐derived features, while incorporating parameter‐sharing and adaptation training strategies, is developed. This approach significantly improves the generalizability of the decoding model across subjects, reducing the reliance on extensive training data. The findings not only deepen the understanding of peripheral nerve function but also open avenues for developing advanced interventions to augment and restore neurological functions.

Wireless biosensing has emerged as a critical technology due to its ability to provide real-time, continuous monitoring of physiological parameters without the constraints of wired connections. This review starts from the fundamental mechanisms of physical and chemical sensing in wireless biosensors, to the integration of advanced wireless technologies for energy harvesting and data communication, including Radio Frequency, Bluetooth, and other forms. Additionally, it covers diverse applications in wearable and implantable biosensors, such as cardiac monitoring, prosthetic enhancements, electronic skin and contact lenses. Attention is given to the emerging fields of osseosurface electronics and gastrointestinal capsule sensors, which represent significant advancements in non-invasive and minimally invasive health monitoring. The synergistic integration of these technologies paves the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools, promising improved patient outcomes and convenient healthcare solutions. This comprehensive overview aims to provide insights into the current state and future prospects of wireless biosensing technologies, underscoring their potential to be realized in various kinds of biosensors. Graphical Abstract