Functional criteria for substrates in soft and stretchable bioelectronic systems

Abstract Substrate materials play a critical role in the design of soft and stretchable bioelectronic systems, providing encapsulation and enabling functional integration with biological tissue in both wearable and implantable applications. This review outlines key design considerations for substrates, including commonly used materials, mechanical requirements, biological compatibility, and additional engineered functionalities. The article concludes with a summary and an outlook on future directions in substrate development for soft bioelectronic applications.