Surface-adaptive interfaces: Bioresorbable ultrasound biomedical devices for noninvasive monitoring and imaging of deep-tissue homeostasis

Homeostasis, a self-regulating process within our bodies, dynamically adjusts internal conditions to maintain equilibrium in response to external challenges. Monitoring homeostasis provides valuable pathophysiological insights for patients, particularly after surgery, while traditional clinical instruments that are capable of monitoring various physiological parameters such as body temperature, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels facilitate real-time health management for individuals and healthcare professionals.1 Nevertheless, current medical approaches for regular deep-tissue homeostasis monitoring systems confront critical obstacles, notably in terms of their invasiveness, sensitivity, and ability for continuous monitoring, including1 (1) insufficiency in multimodal sensing capability at shallow depths, (2) inadequate adaptation to the shapes and contours of tissues, and (3) sluggish responses to changes in the fluid dynamics and movements of organs or tissues. Specifically, technologies like X-ray imaging, computed tomography, and biopsies, for instance, are generally cumbersome, expensive, and impractical for ongoing and real-time monitoring. Additionally, for the aforementioned techniques, a lack of sensitivity for detecting early changes in tissue homeostasis or the aptitude for efficiently tracking patient health status post-surgery is generally observed.