Ultrasound-Driven Injectable and Fully Biodegradable Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Conventional implantable medical devices (IMDs) carry risks of infection and surgical complications.
• There is a demand for biocompatible, controllable, and miniaturized medical devices.
• Minimally invasive implantation methods are crucial for reducing patient risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultrasound-driven, biodegradable, and injectable triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG).
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of I-TENG for medical applications.
• To assess the potential of I-TENG to accelerate tissue healing via electrical stimulation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an injectable triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) using biodegradable materials.
• Subcutaneous injection of I-TENG for minimally invasive implantation.
• Ultrasound stimulation (20 kHz, 1 W cm⁻²) to power the I-TENG.
• In vivo and ex vivo experiments to measure electrical output and assess cellular response.

Main Results:

• The I-TENG demonstrated stable electrical output (356.8 mV voltage, 1.02 µA current in vivo; 0.92 V mm⁻¹ electric field ex vivo) when driven by ultrasound.
• Cell scratch and proliferation assays indicated that the electric field generated by I-TENG enhanced cell migration and proliferation.
• The injectable nature of I-TENG minimized implantation-related injuries and infection risks.

Conclusions:

• The developed ultrasound-driven I-TENG is a promising biodegradable implantable device.
• I-TENG offers a safer alternative to conventional IMDs by reducing infection and injury risks.
• The electrical stimulation from I-TENG has significant potential for accelerating wound healing and tissue regeneration.