Abstract:

Significance Physiological electrical signals reflect electrical activities generated by cells or tissues within the body indicating the functional status of organs and tissues. The accurate recording and analysis of these signals play a crucial role in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of various diseases. Advancements in medical diagnosis and treatment, particularly in the fields of brain neurology, sports science, and cardiac health, have propelled physiological signal monitoring to the forefront of current research. Furthermore, developments in materials science and fabrication techniques have significantly enhanced electrode materials used for signal acquisition. In order to achieve high signal-to-noise ratios and superior spatiotemporal resolution, it is crucial to optimize the structural and functional properties of neural electrodes. Conductive fibers possess several advantages, including light weight, high specific surface area, structural designability, and excellent conductivity. These properties make them ideal for monitoring physiological electrical signals, thereby garnering significant attention in the field of biomedical applications.
Progress This review is based on the advancements in materials science and preparation technologies. It summarizes the research progress of inorganic conductive fibers, organic conductive fibers, and organic/inorganic hybrid conductive fibers in terms of formation methods and physicochemical properties. Compared with conventional metal-based or silicon-based physiological electrodes, conductive fibers exhibit superior performance by providing clearer and more stable electrophysiological signals, attributed to their high sensitivity, light weight, and high degree of customization. Therefore, in the design of conductive fibers, current research trends are progressively shifting towards multi-component and multi-structure systems. For instance, by integrating the functional and structural advantages of organic materials (such as polymers) with those of inorganic materials (such as metals, metal oxides, graphene, etc.), these advanced designs aim to better address the requirements of practical applications.
Furthermore, this review comprehensively evaluates the monitoring capabilities and applicability of conductive fibers in various scenarios for physiological signals, including electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, and electromyograms, both invasive and non-invasive monitoring and recording. Non-invasive electrodes adhere to the skin surface to continuously detect and record physiological signals over extended periods. In contrast, invasive electrodes require implantation within the body to directly contact nerve tissues or individual neurons, enabling more precise monitoring and recording of electrophysiological activities in specific tissues or organs. However, this also imposes more stringent requirements on the biocompatibility of conductive fibers. Through flexible structural design and multi-functional integration, conductive fibers can be optimized as an ideal choice for physiological monitoring applications.
Conclusion and Prospect This review provide an outlook on the current challenges and future development directions of conductive fibers, offering valuable insights into the structural and functional design of conductive fibers for high-precision signal acquisition and their medical applications. With advancements in materials science and nanotechnology, conductive fibers for physiological signal monitoring are poised to drive the development of wearable technologies and implantable medical devices. Furthermore, conductive fibers are expected to play an increasingly critical role in telemedicine, personalized health management, and neuroscience research.

Key words: conductive fiber, electrophysiological signal monitoring, structural design, medical application, functional fiber