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Actively Triggerable Metals via Liquid Metal Embrittlement for Biomedical Applications
Vivian R Feig1,2, Eva Remlova1,3, Benjamin Muller1
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|November 2, 2022
Summary
This study introduces actively triggerable metals for biomedical devices. Eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) triggers aluminum breakdown, offering controlled material degradation for advanced medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Actively triggerable materials offer controlled degradation for biomedical technologies.
- Existing triggerable materials like polymers and hydrogels have limited durability.
- Metals offer superior mechanical strength and conductivity for biomedical uses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop actively triggerable metals for biomedical applications.
- To demonstrate the controlled breakdown of aluminum using liquid metal embrittlement.
- To explore the potential of actively triggerable metals in biomedical devices.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging liquid metal embrittlement with eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn).
- Formulating EGaIn to trigger aluminum breakdown in physiological environments.
- Controlling aluminum breakdown by manipulating its grain structure.
Main Results:
- EGaIn reproducibly triggers the breakdown of aluminum.
- Aluminum breakdown is controllable via grain structure manipulation.
- Three potential biomedical device use cases were demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Actively triggerable metals, specifically aluminum triggered by EGaIn, are feasible for biomedical applications.
- Controlled degradation of metals can be achieved through liquid metal embrittlement.
- This approach enables the development of advanced, adaptable biomedical technologies.
