KOCHI:
CUSAT researchers had developed biocompatible piezoelectric scaffolds for bone and tissue engineering applications that will replace batteries in the implanted medical devices. Implantable medical devices are extensively used for therapies and may assist as functional devices to detect, prevent and cure many diseases challenging human life. The implanted medical devices now face the challenge of inadequate battery. This invention will resolve such issues.
Lithium batteries were commonly used to power the implantable medical devices (IMDs). They have limited capacity and lifetime and the patients require periodical surgeries to replace the weak battery. This is painful and risky surgical procedure. The new invention will ensure effective and sustainable power supply to these devices.
The proposed invention focuses on the development of biocompatible pliable piezoelectric nano-fibres that can be used for the fabrication of piezoelectric nano-generators for implantable applications. The pliable piezoelectric polymer nano- composites with 2D nano-materials will be used as fillers. For the development of these piezoelectric systems, Poly-vinyldene Fluoride/Poly-vinyldene Fluoride- Tri- Fluoro Ethylene(TrFE) will be used as the polymer matrix. Different biocompatible fillers will be incorporated into the polymer matrix and electro- spinning method will be carried out for the development of piezoelectric nano- fibers.
Piezoelectric nano-generator will be fabricated using the composite systems and corresponding open-circuit output voltages will be recorded .The capacitor charging performance have to be employed using a typical rectifier bridge circuit unit. The short circuit current will be measured by Keithley Parameter Analyzer. LEDs will be powered using the developed piezoelectric nano-fibers to realize the practical applications of the prepared composite nano-fibers. In-vitro cell culture studies will be carried out to ensure the biocompatibility of the prepared nano- composites.
For this, live dead assay will be performed on 3T3 fibroblasts and HaCat keratinocytes (cell lines). The cell culture studies will be carried out using standard protocols and fluorescent images of the developed composite nano-fibres will be taken. The proliferation of viable 3T3 fibroblasts and HaCat keratinocyte cells on composite nano-fibres will be determined by means of MTT cell viability assay.
