A computational modelling study of excitation of neuronal cells with triboelectric nanogenerators

Neurological disorders and nerve injuries, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis can result in the loss of muscle function. Electrical stimulation of the neuronal cells is the currently available clinical treatment in this regard. As an effective energy harvester, the triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) can be used for self-powered neural/muscle stimulations because the output of the TENG provides stimulation pulses for nerves. In the present study, using a computational modelling approach, the effect of surface micropatterns on the electric field distribution, induced voltage and capacitance of the TENG structures have been investigated. By incorporating the effect of the TENG inside the mathematical model of neuron's electrical behavior (cable equation with Hodgkin-Huxley model), its impact on the electrical behavior of the neurons has been studied. The results show that the TENG operates differently with various surface modifications. The performance of the TENG in excitation of neurons depends on the contact and release speed of its electrodes accordingly.