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Updated: May 7, 2026

Bridging the Bio-Electronic Interface with Biofabrication
Published on: June 6, 2012
Bioinspired supramolecular fibrillization enables stretchable and biodegradable piezoelectric bioelectronics
Haoran Wu1,2,3,4,5, Hao Lyu6, Hongbo Jiang1,2,3,4,5
1State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Abstract:
Bioinspired piezoelectricity is extensively explored for diverse bio-machine interface and biomedical engineering applications. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art bio-piezoelectricity mainly focuses on crystallization. Yet, crystalized structures exhibit several shortcomings, including limited biocompatibility or biodegradability along with intrinsic non-stretchability. Herein, peptides fibrillization is reported to present inherent bio-piezoelectricity. Upon forming double-network framework with silk fibroin, fibrous peptide piezogels of innate biocompatibility and biodegradability are achieved, showing a programmable piezoelectricity. In particular, the bioinspired supramolecular piezogel can linearly respond to external compression and stretching in large force regions, extensively expanding the application potential bio-piezoelectricity. Upon designing a "W"-shaped structural conformation, a peptide fibrous piezogel-based piezoelectric sensor is shown to be used for detection of limb movements and subcutaneous implantation of the bioinspired piezoelectric electronics, realizing in situ and real-time monitoring of stimuli responses. The findings suggest the promising potential of peptide fibrillization-based bio-piezoelectricity for diverse bio-machine interface and biomedical engineering applications.
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