Biometric implants like the pacemaker have been around for decades but suffer from compatibility issues interfacing with the human body.

Grace Sun's work focused on improving the transistors or OECTs, which like other devices made of silicon, are soft, and flexible, and present the possibility of more complex implants for use in the brain or heart.

Credits: Facebook; Author: Society for Science;

Sensitive OETCs could detect proteins or nucleic acids in sweat, blood, or other transporters that correspond to diseases in their earliest stages. They could replace more invasive implants like the pacemaker and offer unprecedented ways to track biomarkers such as blood glucose, circulating white blood cell count, or blood-alcohol content, which could be useful for people with autoimmunity, epilepsy, or diabetes.