New research from the WISE group (Wearable, Intelligent, Soft Electronics) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU-WISE) has addressed a long-standing bioelectronic challenge: the development of soft, 3D transistors.
This work introduces a new approach to semiconductor device design with transformative potential for bioelectronics. It is published in Science.
Led by Professor Shiming Zhang from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, the research team included senior researchers who joined HKU-WISE from the University of Cambridge and the University of Chicago, together with HKU Ph.D. students and undergraduate participants—an international, inclusive, and dynamic research community.
Traditional silicon-based transistors, the foundation of modern electronics, are rigid and 2D, challenging to integrate with soft and 3D living systems. Professor Zhang and his team explored a fundamentally different idea: designing soft, 3D transistors to mimic both the behavior and structure of neurons in the human brain.
After five years of research, the team developed the world’s first soft, 3D transistors with a special type of semiconductor, known as hydrogel semiconductors. Unlike conventional semiconductors, these hydrogel semiconductors are soft, biocompatible, and synthesized in water through a 3D self-assembling process. They possess tissue-like properties and feature a record-breaking thickness (exceeding millimeters), making them capable of hosting living cells.
This research marks a leap forward in merging electronics with biology, unlocking exciting possibilities for the future of bioelectronics and beyond, potentially advancing frontier research in biohybrid electronics, neuroscience, health technology, and medical research.
Professor Shiming Zhang commented, “This is just the beginning of a new era of bioelectronics. With further optimization, such jelly-like 3D biochips could revolutionize health care, education, and even daily life. We look forward to the launch of regulatory frameworks to guide the development of such groundbreaking technologies for medical uses.” https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-soft-3d-transistors-host-cells.html
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