Electromechanical Nanogenerator–Cell Interaction Modulates Cell Activity

Abstract

Noninvasive methods for in situ electrical stimulation of human cells open new frontiers to future bioelectronic therapies, where controlled electrical impulses could replace the use of chemical drugs for disease treatment. Here, this study demonstrates that the interaction of living cells with piezoelectric nanogenerators (NGs) induces a local electric field that self-stimulates and modulates their cell activity, without applying an additional chemical or physical external stimulation. When cells are cultured on top of the NGs, based on 2D ZnO nanosheets, the electromechanical NG-cell interactions stimulate the motility of macrophages and trigger the opening of ion channels present in the plasma membrane of osteoblast-like cells (Saos-2) inducing intracellular calcium transients. In addition, excellent cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation are validated. This in situ cell-scale electrical stimulation of osteoblast-like cells can be extrapolated to other excitable cells such as neurons or muscle cells, paving the way for future bioelectronic medicines based on cell-targeted electrical impulses.

Permanently hydrophilic, piezoelectric PVDF nanofibrous scaffolds promoting unaided electromechanical stimulation on osteoblasts

“…45,46 This voltage value seems to be enough to electrically stimulate the VGCCs present in the cell membrane and therefore this nanofiber-cell interaction allows the electrical stimulation of the cell, as demonstrated in our previous work. 47 Several papers have analyzed the cytocompatibility of piezoelectric polymers and the response of different cell types to electromechanical stimulus. 5,28 In the present paper, we demonstrate that osteoblasts, when interacting with the PVDF scaffolds, are activated without the need for external stimuli to induce the piezoelectric response.…”

Piezoelectric Nanotopography Induced Neuron‐Like Differentiation of Stem Cells

“…In this work, we propose that the traction force of living cells on the nanostriped PVDF surface could induce the deformation of PVDF stripe, thus creating a local piezoelectric potential. The local piezoelectric potential near the cell membrane would provide continuous electric stimulation for the living cells as long as the cells are under movement . Typically, the cell traction force is in the nN range (0.1–10 nN) .…”

“…On the other hand, physiological activities of cells, such as adhesion and migration, can induce the generation of piezoelectric potential by generating minute deformation of the substrate ridges . It is speculated that the local electric field produced near the cell plasma membrane could tune cell activity and signaling, and finally induce the differentiation of cells …”

Suspended Silicon Microphotodiodes for Electrochemical and Biological Applications

“…The reduced dimensions of these devices and their fabrication in a clean environment with biocompatible materials made possible their introduction into the biological field (BioMEMS), with applications like cellular labeling, intracellular sensing, or single‐cell analysis . In the race to achieve versatile functionalities with reduced dimensions, micro‐ and nanoparticles have emerged as new tools reaching roles that go from electrochemical detection of biological reactions, to more active roles in wastewater treatment or in the stimulation of living cells …”

“…[5] In the race to achieve versatile functionalities with reduced dimensions, micro-and nanoparticles have emerged as new tools reaching roles that go from electrochemical detection of biological reactions, [6] to more active roles in wastewater treatment [7] or in the stimulation of living cells. [8,9] On the other hand, the problems associated with powering through cables and managing the activation have spurred the search for creative ways of powering and controlling these microsystems in a remote way. [10] The most interesting solutions have come along with the development of energy harvesters able to generate electricity from external sources, or even turn the available energy in the surrounding media.…”