Ultrapliable bioelectronic interface for mechanosensitive cardiac electrophysiology | Science Advances

Existing bioelectronics often exhibit megapascal-scale moduli, despite the mechanosensitive nature of cardiomyocytes. Bridging the mechanical mismatch between tissue and bioelectronics is indispensable for building physiologically relevant in vitro cardiac models and advancing therapies. Here, we present Pliable Ultrathin Layered Sensing Electronics (PULSE), a platform with tissue-matched modulus (~10 kilopascals) and stretchable gold microcircuitry for long-term, high-fidelity monitoring of cardiac electrophysiology in vitro. Composed of a soft gel matrix and an ultrathin nanofilm embedded with gold circuits, our device achieves unprecedented tissue integration and preserves natural cardiomyocyte mechanics, resulting in a 140% increase in mechanical contraction and a 100% increase in electrical signals compared to conventional electronics. Cardiac tissue that grows our device exhibited enhanced drug sensitivity and response in cardiac dysfunction, revolutionizing disease modeling. By facilitating seamless interaction at the tissue-electronic interface, our platform offers a transformative perspective for advancing cardiac modeling and next-generation bioelectronic applications.