A wearable device as thin as a temporary tattoo can measure, store and transmit data on muscle activity, and release embedded drugs into the wearer's skin.

Credit: Donghee Son/Jongha Lee

Dae-Hyeong Kim at Seoul National University in South Korea and his colleagues built their device (pictured) by placing stretchable layers of nanomaterials onto an elastomeric polymer material designed to mimic the softness and flexibility of skin. The nanomaterials acted as strain and temperature sensors, memory modules, microheaters and drug carriers. The authors showed that when the device was applied to human skin, it remained in place and deformed with the skin. It measured simulated hand tremors, and delivered drugs through the skin when the tiny heaters generated enough heat.

The device used a wired connection for power supply and data transfer, but the team aims to develop a wireless version for use by patients with movement disorders.

Nature Nanotechnol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.38 (2014)