Emerging nanomaterial and microfabrication techniques for wearable and implantable bioelectronics: Comprehensive review

Muhammad, Mazen and Oguntala, George and Yinusa, Ahmed (2026) Emerging nanomaterial and microfabrication techniques for wearable and implantable bioelectronics: Comprehensive review. Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, 18 (4). p. 100079. ISSN 2150-5578

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Abstract

Wearable and implantable nanoelectronics demand the heterogeneous integration of transducers, analogue front-ends, wireless power and data links, and hermetic encapsulation on substrates that remain mechanically compliant and biostable in vivo. Progress in wearable and implantable bioelectronics has been enabled by co-optimisation of material systems, process windows and packaging architectures with the capability to maintain stability under coupled mechanical, electrochemical, and thermal stresses. Nanoscale and two-dimensional semiconductors expand the design space for low-power transduction, but they impose stringent requirements on defect density, contact resistance, and encapsulation-induced strain after transfer to elastomeric substrates. This present work surveys nanomaterials and microfabrication strategies that address this systems-level requirement and complement existing material-class surveys organising the field along co-design axis of material, fabrication process, encapsulation and tissue interface. Additionally, the review presents a novel cross-material performance benchmark that compares carrier mobility, tensile-strain limit, limit of detection, encapsulation WVTR, fabrication-to-application suitability and regulatory pathway. The scope of this review is restricted to skin-mounted, intracutaneous, and intracorporeal medical devices reported between 2018 and 2026.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.nbe.2026.100079
Dates:	Date Event 29 August 2026 Accepted 26 September 2026 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biosensor, Bioelectronics, Encapsulation, Flexible electronics, Nanomaterials, Implantable devices, Wearable electronics, Health monitoring
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Life and Sports Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	09 Oct 2026 12:59
Last Modified:	09 Oct 2026 12:59
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17265

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