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The objective of BIOTENG is to provide new concepts and methodologies for designing and fabricating tailored biocompatible and bioresorbable functional hybrid nanomaterials for implantable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices. The proposed innovative TENG device converts mechanical vibrations into electricity for powering health monitoring microdevices or generating electric signals for treatment or stimulation of desirable biological systems. After its service in vivo is no longer required, the implantable TENG device will undergo biodegradation without the need for additional surgery for its removal. The main innovative aspect of the project is the way how the materials will be selected and modified for better triboelectrification (TE). Currently, the materials for TENG are selected from the triboelectric series because electron transfer is considered as the main mechanism underlying the TE. Recently we correctly identified the heterolysis as a mechanism for polymer TE. The polymer TE in BIOTENG will be controlled by controlling heterolytic bond breaking via macromolecular bonding and nanoparticle additives. The project will provide a wider choice of innovative materials that can be used for implantable TENG devices with better performance. The proposed multidiscipline BIOTENG consortium brings together world-class institutions to open new avenues of joint research in complementary areas where each institution has its individual strengths. Namely, the polymer materials for TENG device will be developed in the University of Tartu; polymer nanofibers, nanocomposites, and inorganic additives, as well as materials for conductive electrodes, will be fabricated at the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences; TENG devices will be engineered and tested at the Riga Technical University, and the partners at the Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology in Moscow, Russia are expected to test performance of TENG in vitro and in vivo. |
