How soft electronics are transforming medical devices

Flexible, biocompatible and even biodegradable electronics are reshaping what medical devices can do, from resorbable pacemakers that vanish after use to soft sensors and neural interfaces that communicate with the body’s own ionic signals. As researchers tune polymers, hydrogels and nanoscale materials for stretchability, stability and conductivity, they are also unpicking the complex structure–function relationships that govern performance. With machine learning accelerating materials discovery and new concepts such as organic artificial neurons emerging, the field is edging closer to devices that integrate seamlessly with tissue, offer more precise monitoring and intervention, and meet the practical demands of clinical deployment.