Tissue-bioelectronics interfaces

Abstract

Wearable and implantable bioelectronics enable continuous physiological monitoring and therapeutic modulation, yet their performance critically depends on the stability and conformality of the interfaces with soft and dynamic biological tissues. Mechanical and biochemical mismatches between conventional electronic materials and living tissues often lead to interfacial stress, unstable contact, and inflammatory responses that compromise the long-term function of bioelectronics. This review presents a mechanism-driven framework for understanding tissue–bioelectronics interfaces by systematically examining the physical, chemical, and biological interactions that govern device–tissue coupling across temporal and length scales. We show how these interfacial mechanisms inform key design principles in structural engineering and materials development, enabling improved mechanical compliance, adhesion, and long-term interfacial stability. We further highlight recent advances in fabrication strategies that support soft, conformal, and multifunctional bioelectronic systems, together with representative applications spanning physiological sensing and therapeutic modulation. Finally, we discuss emerging strategies for mitigating foreign-body responses and outline remaining challenges and opportunities for achieving durable, adaptive, and clinically translatable tissue–bioelectronics interfaces.