Cyborg electronics for organ-conformal detection and therapeutics

Flexible bioelectronics represents a rapidly evolving frontier in human-machine interfaces, potentially transforming hospital-based equipment into epidermal and implantable formats for continuous monitoring and localized therapy. This perspective examines recent advances in what we call "cyborg electronics"—devices that integrate seamlessly with human tissues to enable prolonged physiological surveillance and targeted intervention. We analyze innovations in three critical domains: detection capabilities utilizing highly conformable materials, therapeutic applications including programmable drug delivery and electrical stimulation, and tissue-device interfaces that mitigate foreign body responses. Despite significant progress, challenges persist in balancing mechanical conformability with electronic stability, ensuring long-term biocompatibility, managing power requirements, and addressing post-functional device fate. Future directions include closed-loop diagnostic-therapeutic systems, bioinspired integration strategies, and degradable electronics. By addressing these challenges, cyborg electronics can revolutionize healthcare from episodic intervention to continuous management, enabling earlier disease detection, more effective treatment, and enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.