Biodegradable 3D Electronics from Growth-Induced Shape Change in Engineered Living Materials

Engineered living materials (ELMs) are materials that derive their functionality from living and nonliving components. This study investigates the use of ELMs, specifically living yeast encapsulated in hydrogel substrates, as an approach to grow and transfigure 3D electronics. We developed three-dimensional (3D), transient electronic devices by integrating conductive metal inks, made of printable silver and liquid metal, onto ELMs. The ELMs undergo programmable growth based on induced environmental stimuli and transform from flat substrates into various programmed 3D shapes of various curvature, such as stretchable helices with a tunable pitch from 14.7 ± 3.05 to 65 ± 6 °/mm. These ELM substrates were found to be fully degradable over the course of 48 h in accelerated hydrolytic conditions, leaving behind only the conductive traces. Our findings indicate that yeast-based ELMs can effectively support electronic functionalities while being fully degradable, offering a promising alternative for growing 3D electronics and advancing sustainable electronics.