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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
An Additive Manufacturing Technique for the Facile and Rapid Fabrication of Hydrogel-based Micromachines with Magnetically Responsive Components
Published on: July 18, 2018
Hydrogel-based piezoelectric materials and devices for implantable bioelectronics
Saswat Choudhury1, Zhong Lin Wang2, Sang-Woo Kim1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea; Center for Human-Oriented Triboelectric Energy Harvesting, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
Piezoelectric hydrogels (PHs) offer a sustainable solution for self-powered biomedical devices by integrating energy harvesting with soft, biocompatible materials. These advanced hydrogels show promise for tissue regeneration and implantable electronics.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Bioelectronics
Background:
- Next-generation biomedical devices need integrated energy harvesting for self-sustaining operation.
- Current rigid and bulky systems limit interfacing with soft tissues.
- Hydrogels offer biocompatibility and mechanical adaptability for conformal electronics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review piezoelectric hydrogels (PHs) as self-powered biomaterials.
- To cover material classifications, fabrication, and performance.
- To discuss applications in tissue repair and future clinical translation.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of piezoelectric materials and hydrogel integration.
- Analysis of fabrication strategies for natural and synthetic PHs.
- Evaluation of device performance under physiological conditions.
Main Results:
- Piezoelectric hydrogels combine hydrogel adaptability with piezoelectric energy conversion.
- Various piezoelectric materials (ceramics, polymers, nanocomposites) can be integrated.
- PHs demonstrate potential in wound healing, nerve, bone, and cartilage regeneration.
Conclusions:
- Piezoelectric hydrogels represent a novel class of self-powered, biocompatible biomaterials.
- PHs enable new possibilities for implantable and wearable bioelectronics.
- Further research is needed for mechanistic understanding, performance enhancement, and clinical translation.
