Biodegradable Piezoelectric Polymers: Recent Advancements in Materials and Applications

Abstract

Recent materials, microfabrication, and biotechnology improvements have introduced numerous exciting bioelectronic devices based on piezoelectric materials. There is an intriguing evolution from conventional unrecyclable materials to biodegradable, green, and biocompatible functional materials. As a fundamental electromechanical coupling material in numerous applications, novel piezoelectric materials with a feature of degradability and desired electrical and mechanical properties are being developed for future wearable and implantable bioelectronics. These bioelectronics can be easily integrated with biological systems for applications, including sensing physiological signals, diagnosing medical problems, opening the blood‐brain barrier, and stimulating healing or tissue growth. Therefore, the generation of piezoelectricity from natural and synthetic bioresorbable polymers has drawn great attention in the research field. Herein, the significant and recent advancements in biodegradable piezoelectric materials, including natural and synthetic polymers, their principles, advanced applications, and challenges for medical uses, are reviewed thoroughly. The degradation methods of these piezoelectric materials through in vitro and in vivo studies are also investigated. These improvements in biodegradable piezoelectric materials and microsystems could enable new applications in the biomedical field. In the end, potential research opportunities regarding the practical applications are pointed out that might be significant for new materials research.

Efficacy of wireless sensors in assessing occlusal and bite forces: A systematic review

“…However, while the simulation also included the transverse component of force during bruxism occurrences, the system did not respond predictably in this aspect, likely due to the transducer's design, which was intended for measuring compressive stresses. An alternative transducer, such as piezoelectric polymers, 35 can be employed to measure both vertical and horizontal forces. However, utilizing polymeric piezoelectric sensors entails more intricate conditioning, including the use of a charge amplifier, and the resulting signal is less resilient to the impact of movements and external signals.…”

“…However, utilizing polymeric piezoelectric sensors entails more intricate conditioning, including the use of a charge amplifier, and the resulting signal is less resilient to the impact of movements and external signals. Moreover, since the piezoelectricity of these polymers is a consequence of their ferroelectricity and, subsequently, pyroelectricity, the ultimate signal is significantly affected by variations in temperature 35,36 …”

Can self-powered piezoelectric materials be used to treat disc degeneration by means of electrical stimulation?

“…The origin of piezoelectricity in polymers is attributed to the inherent crystalline or chemical structure of the polymer material, which induces a net dipole/charge upon mechanical deformation. Piezoelectric polymers are mainly fabricated in three different forms: membranes, rods or tubes and fibers ( Ali et al, 2023 ). Among them, Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers are characterized by high voltage electrical properties, flexibility, and biocompatibility which makes them good candidates for tissue engineering ( Jacob et al, 2018 ).…”

“…In natural bone, external stress-induced remodeling of bone is closely associated with calcium channels mediated by changes in local potentials ( Ali et al, 2023 ). And similarly load-induced potentials are observed within the normal IVD, which mainly include flow and diffusion potentials ( Lai et al, 2000 ).…”

Recent advancements in bio-based dielectric and piezoelectric polymers and their biomedical applications

“…Their potential for undergoing absorption within the body or degradation into safe components renders them suitable for implantation as medical devices. 134 This not only mitigates toxicity concerns but also eliminates the need for retrieval surgeries. In addition, their inherent biodegradability presents an opportunity to tackle the escalating worldwide threat of electronic waste (e-waste).…”