A team of Chinese scientists from Southeast University in Nanjing has made significant strides in the development of advanced materials for medical implants. Their research focuses on creating a transient implantable piezoelectric material that addresses the issues of biodegradability and brittleness commonly found in current options. These piezoelectric materials are essential for electromechanical devices utilized in applications such as biosensing, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and antimicrobial and tumor therapies; however, they often necessitate additional surgical procedures for removal.
The researchers have successfully identified a ferroelectric molecular crystal that uniquely combines piezoelectricity with biodegradability. Notably, this crystal boasts a piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of approximately 138 picocoulombs per newton, representing a remarkable 13-fold increase over previously available biodegradable materials. The full findings are detailed in their report titled “Biodegradable Ferroelectric Molecular Crystal with Large Piezoelectric Response,” published in Science on March 28, 2024.- Flcube.com
