Field‑Programmable Biofunctional Films: From Assisted Fabrication to Integrated Diagnostic‐Therapeutic Devices
The convergence of physical fields, functional matter, and medicine underpins the foundation of modern biomedical engineering and next-generation diagnostic-therapeutic technologies. Building upon this paradigm, field-programmable biofunctional films (FPBFs) have emerged as a versatile class of biointerfaces capable of spatiotemporally controlled, programmable responses to diverse physical stimuli, including thermal, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, and acoustic fields. Beyond simple responsiveness, FPBFs embody a multiphysical-coupling framework, where synergistic interactions between materials and physical fields give rise to integrated closed-loop diagnostic-therapeutic functions. This review highlights recent advances in single and multiphysical-field-assisted fabrication strategies of FPBFs, emphasizing the interplay between material composition, structural programmability, and field-induced responsiveness. We further outline key biomedical applications, ranging from biosensing and molecular diagnostics to on-demand drug release and targeted therapy. Particular emphasis is placed on their integration with clinical medical devices, where FPBFs function as dynamic interfaces bridging sensing, actuation, and therapeutic feedback. Finally, this review outlines key challenges in multifunctional integration, biocompatibility, and clinical translation, envisioning FPBFs as a foundation for next-generation adaptive biomedical systems that integrate materials science and engineering medicine through synergistic bio-physical coupling toward programmable, precision healthcare.
Authors
- X W Wang
- Yefan Duan
- Yuehua Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1343-7449)
- Jinchao Feng
- Ning Gu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0047-337X)
- Yuhan Liu
- Jianfei Sun
- Heng Zhang
Institutions
- Yangtze River Delta Physics Research Center (China) (CN)
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (CN)
- Suzhou Research Institute (CN)
- Southeast University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-05-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.73695
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- National Key Research and Development Program of China