Next-Generation Wearables and Emerging Bioelectronics

The field of personalized medicine and remote healthcare monitoring has witnessed rapid progress in the last few years owing to the convergence of flexible electronics, miniaturized sensors, and advanced biomaterials. Furthermore, the confluence of additive manufacturing and traditional micromachining has opened up a myriad of possibilities in the field of next-generation wearables and emerging bioelectronics. These next-generation systems enable non-invasive and real-time monitoring of vital physiological parameters, biophysical, and electrochemical signals. On the other hand, innovations in microphysiological and organ-on-chip platforms, soft biointerfaces, and implantable devices powered by emerging fabrication techniques combined with mature cleanroom-based microfabrication methods are redefining the way human physiology is interfaced with electronics. These advancements not only facilitate continuous diagnostics and health management but also support fundamental biological research and drug discovery. This Research Topic aims to bring together recent developments in wearable sensors, flexible electronics, biosensing platforms, organ-on-chip systems, and implantable bioelectronic systems to showcase the translational potential of this rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field.

Although a lot of progress has been achieved in the field of wearables and bioelectronics in the last two decades, limitations in scalability, seamless data acquisition, long-term biocompatibility, and device stability under extended usage critically impact their serious commercialization prospects. Furthermore, there is a pressing demand for scalable, high-throughput, and inexpensive fabrication methods that will enable translation of lab-scale innovations into clinically -and commercially-viable technologies. Additionally, there is a critical need for synergy between mechanical and materials engineering, biology, circuit design and microfabrication to develop advanced systems that are minimally invasive, robust, and capable of real-time multi-parameter sensing under extended usage.

This Research Topic aims to address these pressing challenges by bringing in contributions that showcase novel approaches in microfabrication, flexible electronics, sensor integration, and organ-on-chip systems. We are seeking original research articles and systematic reviews that highlight innovative fabrication techniques (e.g., 3D printing, soft lithography), advanced sensing modalities (e.g., electrochemical, optical, and mechanical), and applications ranging from point-of-care diagnostics to implantable devices. We aim to create a platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue and showcase the state-of-the-art in wearable and emerging bioelectronics.

We are expecting submissions within, but not limited to the following broad themes:

1. Wearable sensors: Soft, flexible, and stretchable skin-conformal sensors for physiological parameters monitoring.
2. Emerging biosensors: Wearable biosensors for bodily fluid electrochemical monitoring.
3. Bioelectronics: Implantable devices, neural interfaces, soft bioelectronics, and minimally invasive systems for personalised therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
4. Organ-on-chips: Microfluidic devices and platforms, 3D organ models, organoids-on-chip, multi-organ-on-chip.
5. Emerging fabrication techniques: Convergence of traditional microfabrication with next-generation additive manufacturing techniques.
6. Al in wearables and bioelectronics for advanced health analytics.
7. Data security & privacy in wearable healthcare

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Wearable sensors; Flexible electronics; Bioelectronics, Organ-on-a-chip, Biosensors, Implantable devices

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.