Flexible Bioelectronics and Wearables Laboratory

Flexible Bioelectronics and Wearables Lab

1. Lab Overview

Introduction:

The Flexible Bioelectronics and Wearables Lab at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence is a newly established laboratory with the long-term goal of becoming a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to the convergence of biology, electronics, and material science. The goal of our lab is to converge the principles of microsystems fabrication with next-generation additive manufacturing techniques to develop advanced organ-on-chip systems and wearable electronics for inexpensive, accessible health care. The lab fosters innovation through the development of next-generation bioelectronic devices, flexible sensors, and smart wearables aimed at healthcare, neurotechnology, and digital health. It provides a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary research and hands-on learning for students and researchers alike.

Mission/Vision:

  • To bridge biology and electronics through innovation in soft, flexible, and biocompatible systems, enabling impactful advancements in neuroscience, health monitoring, and bio-AI platforms.
  • Combining matured MEMS technology with the rapidly evolving field of additive manufacturing and applying them for developing advanced wearables.

Focus:

Our lab focuses on polymer-nanomaterial composite-based flexible electronics, wearable sensors, soft neural interfaces, microelectrode arrays for brain-on-a-chip, and organ-on-chip systems for personalized therapeutics.

2. Laboratory Facilities

Key Equipment:

  • Inovenso Nanospinner NS+ automatic electrospinning setup for nanofiber synthesis.
  • Convection ovens
  • Access to Class 10,000 cleanroom (R-block)
  • Maskless UV exposure system for soft lithography
  • Spin coaters (2)
  • Diener Zepto Plasma cleaner
  • TPT wire bonder
  • HHV E-beam evaporator
  • HHV Sputter deposition system
  • Two MSLA 3D printers for high-resolution polymer printing
  • Bamboo labs FDM 3D printer
  • Desiccators with vacuum pumps
  • Fume hoods
  • Sonnicators
  • Hioki IM3536 LCR meter with L2000 kelvin probe
  • Keysight 4-channel oscilloscope
  • Keysight 6-digit precision DMM
  • Access to electrochemical workstations for EIS measurements

3. Research and Innovation

Ongoing Projects:

  • DST INSPIRE-funded project on Nanomaterials doped lattice-based piezocapacitive sensors for human motion monitoring (INR 35 Lakhs).
  • Developing Seismorespirators and SMART ICU Beds. Koita Centre for Digital Health, Ashoka University. Project worth INR ~ 34 Lakhs. (Sanctioned, September 2025).

Latest Publications:

  • Dhairya Naryan, Richa Tyagi, Rohit Goyal, Atul Vir Singh, & Debarun Sengupta*. “3D-Printed CNT-coated Microstructured Lattices for Soft Piezocapacitive Sensors” IEEE ICEE 2025 (in press).
  • Onorati, C. R., Sengupta, D., Gomes, N. M., & Kottapalli, A. G. P. (2025). On-Foot Gait Lab: A Hybrid Wearable Sensor Platform for Spatiotemporal Gait Analysis Using Electrospun Piezocapacitive Insoles and IMUs. ACS Applied Engineering Materials.
  • Sengupta, D., & Kottapalli, A. G. P. (2025). Highly aligned P (VDF-TrFE) nanofibers for tactile and flow-sensing applications. IEEE Sensors Letters. 10.1109/LSENS.2025.3581589
  • Sengupta, D., Ayodogmus, H., Tawade, P., Karim, T., Rangaswamy, S., Frimat, J.P., & Mastrangeli, M. Fabrication of soft and transparent 3D microelectrode arrays for in vitro electrophysiological recording. Proc. IEEE Transducers conf. 2025

Collaborations:

  • Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University
  • Department of Bioinspired MEMS and Biomedical Devices, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
  • Netherlands Organ-on-Chip Consortium (NOCI).
  • SCCM US (as Co-PI on ICU digitization project)

Innovation Corner:

  • Transparent 3D MEAs for organoid interfacing
  • Metamaterials lattice-based soft sensors
  • Wearables biosensors for women’s health
  • Student-driven smart ICU bed and AI-integrated sensor platform

4. Academic Integration

Courses Supported:

  • Flexible Electronics
    • MEMS and Microsystems
    • Bioelectronics
    • Wearable Systems Design

Hands-On Learning:

  • Capstone projects on wearable biosensing
    • Summer internships in microfabrication and soft lithography
    • Real-time device prototyping and testing sessions

Workshops & Training:

  • Organised an international conference on bioelectronics and wearables jointly with the Physics department.
  • Upcoming: Planned Workshop on 'Soft Electronics for Neurointerfaces.

5. Industry Collaboration

Industry-Sponsored Labs:

  • Discussions are ongoing with TCS Innovations for a collaborative venture focused on Flexible electronics.
  • In talks with RITES Limited for development of smart sensors for prestressed long term girder health monitoring
  • AXONE Health
    Actively collaborating with AXONE Health, a startup specializing in Electronic Health Records (EHR) and digital health platforms. AXONE has provided industry support for three technology proposals, which are currently under consideration at MeitY.
  • HCLTech – Engineering Research Services (ERS)
    Engaged with HCLTech ERS over the past year to identify five focus areas in next-generation sensing technologies. Currently in the process of finalizing an industry partnership with HCLTech ERS for cash and in-kind contributions to the proposed MeitY SYMBIOTIC Hub, with HCLTech leading the commercialization of selected project outcomes under a MeitY-compliant IP framework.
  • Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH–Ashoka University)
    Collaborating with the Koita Centre for Digital Health on the development of advanced wearable sensors for healthcare applications. KCDH has provided ₹34 lakhs in initial funding for the development of laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based wearable seismorespirators aimed at emulating clinical respiratory examination.
  • KCDH–Global Health Limited (d/b/a Medanta)
    Engaged jointly with KCDH and Global Health Limited, d/b/a Medanta for the development and clinical validation of wearable EEG monitoring devices. Medanta Hospitals is the designated clinical partner for the submitted MeitY SYMBIOTIC proposal.

Internship Opportunities:

  • Internship in collaboration with Ashoka University's Koita Centre for Digital Health
  • Research internships for students in collaboration with TU Delft.

6. Lab Safety & Guidelines

Protocols:

  • Use of PPE (lab coats, gloves, goggles) is mandatory during fabrication or chemical handling
    • Restricted access to certain fabrication areas without prior training.

Training:

  • Mandatory lab safety induction for all students and researchers
    • Supervised equipment usage for new members

Contact:

Dr. Debarun Sengupta
Lab Coordinator, Flexible Bioelectronics and Wearables Lab
Email: [email protected]

7. News & Events

Recent Updates:

  • Invited speaker for Graphene India 2026, a flagship conference organised by C-MET MeitY and the University of Manchester.
  • Appointed as a Principal Member of the Wearable Electronic Devices and Technologies Sectional Committee (LITD 33) under the Electronics & IT Department of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
  • Appointed as an expert and Member of the Project Review and Steering Group (PRSG) for two national R&D programs/Hubs at IIT Kharagpur and IIT Jodhpur. The PRSG is responsible for reviewing and guiding large-scale research initiatives in advanced electronics, nanotechnology, and sensor systems.
  • Professor Venkatesh N. Murthy, Professor of MCB & Director of the Centre for Brain Science, Harvard University visited our Flexible Bioelectronics and Wearables Lab. We had long and insightful discussions on the future of this field and the role of emerging Organ-on-chip devices for understanding the fundamental behavior of neural circuits.
  • Invited by the IEEE Young Professionals Society as a panelist and judge at IEEE FLEPS 2025, Singapore.
  • Visited IME, ASTAR Singapore and discussed possibilities for joint projects.