Iontronic gel droplets detect beating heart tissue

Figure

Source: © Hagan Bayley et al/Science/AAAS

Microscale hydrogels converted into biocompatable electrical components

Researchers in Oxford have created a series of modular circuit components from hydrogel droplets engineered to selectively transport ions. These ‘iontronic’ devices interact seamlessly with living matter and, in a proof-of-concept demonstration, the team designed a biological sensor capable of measuring the heartbeat of cardiac cell samples.