Recent advances on biomechanical motion-driven triboelectric nanogenerators for drug delivery

Abstract

In recent years, unprecedented advances are noticed in wearable sensors and therapeutic devices because of their portability, low power consumption, m-health solution, and self-administration phenomena. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) converts biomechanical energy into electricity through the combined effects of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, gaining ubiquitous attention because of its sensing and energy harvesting properties. Nano carriers like stimuli-responsive biopolymers, nanoparticles, microneedles, and liposomes are the most frequently used drug delivery vehicle in invasive as well as transdermal drug delivery (TDD) system that is stimulated and controlled by TENGs power supply. Hence, biomaterials and organelles are exploited in drug delivery systems along with TENG to achieve a site-specific controlled drug release. With the progress of biomechanical energy harvesting, self-power drug delivery has been proven to be a worthy substitute for oral or injectable drug delivery with high performance and therapeutic accuracy. Continuous power generation, sustainability, and precise functionality of self-powered devices and wearable sensors have still encountered some hitches during biomedical applications. This focused review will summarize the recent developments of TENG-powered drug delivery systems. An in-depth explanation of current challenges and future directions to ensure precise and on-demand drug delivery will also be elucidated lucidly.