Pectin-Based Flexible and Wearable Bioelectrodes for EMG Signal Recording

Pectin, a natural biopolymer, is a cost-effective, biocompatible, non-toxic, abundant, and flexible material, making it suitable for recording high-quality bioelectric signals from the dynamic surface of the human body. In this work, pectin-based flexible bioelectrodes were developed for the non-invasive monitoring of biopotentials. The bioelectrodes are composed of pectin, polyaniline emeraldine salt (PANI-ES), glycerol, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and therefore abbreviated as PPGP. The PPGP electrodes demonstrated a bulk electrical conductivity of (7.54 ± 0.81) × 10−3 S/cm, a very low impedance of 34 Ω, and a high charge storage capacity of 4.63 ± 2.70 mC/cm2. The surface morphology of the PPGP electrode plays a crucial role in enhancing biopotential signal detection by improving adhesion to skin contours. PPGP electrodes have been successfully used for high-fidelity electromyographic (EMG) bioelectric signal measurements. The developed PPGP bioelectrodes have the potential to advance next-generation human–machine interface (HMI) technologies and wearable healthcare systems, including prosthetic control, rehabilitation monitoring, and assistive communication devices.