title: Modulated Degradation of Transient Electronic Devices through Multilayer Silk Fibroin Pockets.
abstract: The recent introduction of transient, bioresorbable electronics into the field of electronic device design offers promise for the areas of medical implants and environmental monitors, where programmed loss of function and environmental resorption are advantageous characteristics. Materials challenges remain, however, in protecting the labile device components from degradation at faster than desirable rates. Here we introduce an indirect passivation strategy for transient electronic devices that consists of encapsulation in multiple air pockets fabricated from silk fibroin. This approach is investigated through the properties of silk as a diffusional barrier to water penetration, coupled with the degradation of magnesium-based devices in humid air. Finally, silk pockets are demonstrated to be useful for controlled modulation of device lifetime. This approach may provide additional future opportunities for silk utility due to the low immunogenicity of the material and its ability to stabilize labile biotherapeutic dopants.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Brenckle
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
authors: Huanyu
authors: H
authors: Cheng
authors: KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University , Seoul 136-701, Korea.
authors: Sukwon
authors: S
authors: Hwang
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin , Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
authors: Hu
authors: H
authors: Tao
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Paquette
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States.
authors: David L
authors: DL
authors: Kaplan
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Fredrick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Rogers
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
authors: Yonggang
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States.|Department of Physics, Tufts University , Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States.
authors: Fiorenzo G
authors: FG
authors: Omenetto
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D004581:Electronics; D004867:Equipment Design; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D005349:Fibroins; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: degradation; fibroin; resorbable; silk; transient electronics