Ultrasoft and Biocompatible Magnetic-Hydrogel-Based Strain Sensors for Wireless Passive Biomechanical Monitoring

Implantable flexible mechanical sensors have exhibited great potential in health monitoring and disease diagnosis due to continuous and real-time monitoring capability. However, the wires and power supply required in current devices cause inconvenience and potential risks. Magnetic-based devices have demonstrated advantages in wireless and passive sensing, but the mismatched mechanical properties, poor biocompatibility, and insufficient sensitivity have limited their applications in biomechanical monitoring. Here, a wireless and passive flexible magnetic-based strain sensor based on a gelatin methacrylate/Fe3O4 magnetic hydrogel has been fabricated. The sensor exhibits ultrasoft mechanical properties, strong magnetic properties, and long-term stability in saline solution and can monitor strains down to 50 μm. A model of the sensing process is established to identify the optimal detection location and the relation between the relative magnetic permeability and the sensitivity of the sensors. Moreover, an in vitro tissue model is developed to investigate the potential of the sensor in detecting subtle biomechanical signals and avoiding interference with bioactivities. Furthermore, a real-time and high-throughput biomonitoring platform is built and implements passive wireless monitoring of the drug response and cultural status of the cardiomyocytes. This work demonstrates the potential of applying magnetic sensing for biomechanical monitoring and provides ideas for the design of wireless and passive implantable devices.