Fibroin Patch with Hygroscopic Salts for Stable Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soft electronic devices for bioelectrical and chemical sensing face issues with adhesion, mechanical stability, and material compatibility, particularly when hosting 3D printed circuits, as they tend to dry out quickly and are not compatible with high-temperature annealing processes required for organic materials.
Innovation Solution
A patch manufacturing process using a bio-polymeric ink based on fibroin, which is extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons and dissolved in formic acid with Calcium chloride, along with salts, to create a substrate that supports 3D printed circuits and electrodes, utilizing aerosol jet printing for circuit deposition, ensuring biocompatibility and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If glues or gels are used to enhance adhesion on the skin, then adhesion properties are improved, but the device dries out quickly causing detachment and deterioration of interfacial impedance properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the substrate by incorporating hygroscopic salts (CaCl2, MgCl2, NaCl, KCl) into the fibroin matrix. These salts maintain a humid microenvironment through deliquescent properties, preventing the substrate from drying out while maintaining strong adhesion to the skin over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining fibroin biopolymer with hygroscopic salts. This composite provides both the adhesion properties of fibroin and the moisture-retention capability of the salts, resolving the contradiction between initial adhesion strength and long-term durability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If high-temperature annealing is used for 3D printing organic materials, then material compatibility is improved, but the fibroin substrate degrades due to incompatible physical and chemical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by incorporating hygroscopic salts into the fibroin substrate before printing the organic electronic components. This pre-prepared humid microenvironment protects the fibroin from degradation during subsequent high-temperature annealing processes, enabling successful integration of organic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The hygroscopic salts act as a protective cushion against thermal stress and dehydration during the annealing process. They maintain a stable microenvironment that buffers the fibroin substrate from the harsh conditions of high-temperature processing, preventing degradation while allowing organic material deposition.
3Strength
If the fibroin substrate is made soft and stretchable by introducing CaCl2 and controlling humidity, then adhesion properties are improved, but mechanical stability for hosting 3D printed circuits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and distribution of hygroscopic salts within the fibroin matrix to achieve a balance between softness/stretchability and mechanical stability. By controlling salt concentration and humidity parameters, the substrate maintains both compliance for adhesion and structural integrity for hosting circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local variations in salt concentration and fibroin density to achieve different mechanical properties in different regions of the substrate. Areas requiring flexibility have higher salt content, while areas requiring circuit support have optimized structural properties, resolving the contradiction between adhesion and mechanical stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The patch achieves stable adhesion and mechanical stability for 3D printed circuits, reduces clinical waste, and is versatile for different sensing applications, overcoming material compatibility issues and maintaining reliability during motion.
Implementation Method 1
providing a substrate at least partially made by the bio-polymeric ink; printing a circuit on the substrate
Implementation Method 2
boiling the cocoons in a solution of distilled or deionized water and sodium carbonate so as to obtain a degummed fibroin
Implementation Method 3
extracting fibroin from Bombyx mori cocoons
Implementation Method 4
dissolving the degummed fibroin in a solution of formic acid and Calcium chloride
Implementation Method 5
enhancing adhesion on the skin
Data Source
AI summary
A process (100) for manufacturing a patch (10) to be applied on a human or animal organ, comprising the steps of:preparing a bio-polymeric ink (200);providing a substrate at least partially made by said bio-polymeric ink (300);printing a circuit on said substrate (400).