Biodegradable electronics; materials and current approaches

This master’s thesis is a part of ‘Human Spare Parts’ research program by BioMediTech. The aim of the research program is to integrate different branches of biomedical engineering and stem cell research to discover new and better therapies and treatments. However, this thesis concentrates on biomaterials and sensor technology. The first part of the thesis, entitled the theoretical part is dedicated to a detailed investigation of the biodegradable electronics. This part gives an introduction to materials, existing technologies and area of applications. Polymers as organic materials, biodegradable materials, their classifications, and scope for biodegradable electronics are discussed in this part. A discussion of currently developed devices for medical and other applications are also documented. New organic materials such as, conducting, semiconducting and dielectric polymers have been developed for the facilitation of biodegradable electronics. Their ease in processing and fabricating has made them a potential candidate for organic electronics. Inorganic materials are being used as well, but the dependence is reducing with the emergence of new materials. Extremely flexible, bendable, thermally well stable and fully degradable electronic components have been demonstrated successfully. The second part of the thesis involves an experimental part. The feasibility of biodegradable encapsulation of LC resonance sensor and reliability of extractable features to monitor the water absorption and degradation processes in the polymeric materials were studied. Biodegradable encapsulation of polycaprolactone (PCL) was found to be a potential candidate for such sensor configurations. PCL exhibited a low processing temperature and was found to be stabilized after taking up water into its matrix. Based on the results, further studies are needed in order to sort out prospects in biosensor technology based on the concept of biodegradable encapsulation of LC resonance circuit