Sunday, April 14, 2013

Implantable Electronics Fight Disease, then Dissolve

Implantable electronics able to dissolve over time could lead to a new generation of pain-relief methods as well as an easier way to monitor water quality.

The devices, called transient electronics, are not new, but researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have recently made some significant advancements in their functioning. The new devices are wrapped in alternating layers that dissolve completely after a specific period of time, leaving behind no residue. In tests, the research team implanted the devices in mice at risk for infection. The devices created localized heat, preventing the infection, and then dissolved.

In applications beyond medicine, the dissolvable electronics could also be distributed to monitor water quality, and then allowed to dissolve after completing the task.

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