Research Appraisals
Evidence-based critical appraisals of the latest medical research, systematically evaluated using Oxford CEBM methodology.
Showing 2 appraisals
Biofabrication
3D printed trichome-inspired permeable bioadhesive for wearable bioelectronics
Wearable bioelectronics that adhere directly to the skin have broad applications. However, achieving optimal breathability remains a significant challenge because of sweat accumulation at the device-skin interface. Conventional approaches, such as porous structures, often limit the functional versatility of wearable bioelectronics. To address this gap, we propose a sweat-removable skin sticker (SRSS) with a hierarchical trichome-inspired channel architecture that rapidly removes sweat from the interface while maintaining robust skin adhesion. The SRSS was fabricated through a hybrid process, in which the trichome-inspired hierarchical microchannel architecture was created by direct ink writing, enabling the controlled deposition of viscous ink with high structural fidelity. Through the multi-level ribs design, the SRSS demonstrated an effective area-normalized horizontal water removal rate (25.6 ml cm-2min-1) significantly higher than the human sweat secretion rate (0.38-2.85 × 10-3ml cm-2min-1)-approximately three orders of magnitude. This feature reduces sweat accumulation in wearable bioelectronics, thereby enhancing user comfort. Unlike conventional porous materials, the SRSS relies on channel based adhesive interface design that remains compatible with attached wearable bioelectronics, such as temperature sensors in real time. This work therefore presents a structurally engineered permeable bioadhesive interface for wearable bioelectronics.
27 June 2026
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Biodegradable Electrohydraulic Actuators for Wearable Haptic Interfaces
Biodegradable soft actuators have gained significant attention due to their inherent conformability, adaptability, and ability to safely interact with humans, while substantially reducing long-term environmental waste. Although various biodegradable materials have been explored for fabricating soft devices and their electrical interfaces, many still suffer from limited durability and operational stability under ambient conditions. In particular, biodegradable electrohydraulic actuators often exhibit a performance degradation over time. In this work, we systematically evaluate the influence of various biodegradable materials, including compliant electrodes, dielectric films, and dielectric fluids, on actuator performance. The optimal material combination was identified and used to fabricate a biodegradable actuator that demonstrated stable operation over 10,000 cycles with no noticeable variation in actuation strain. Under industrial composting conditions, the device underwent degradation within 50 days, supporting its environmental sustainability. Furthermore, a wrist-worn biodegradable haptic device is demonstrated that is capable of generating diverse and salient tactile sensations, highlighting its potential applications in assistive technology and virtual/augmented reality.
25 June 2026
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