Triboelectric nanogenerators for self-powered drug delivery

Abstract

As the world marches into the era of the Internet of things, greater demands have been placed on drug delivery systems to provide intelligent, efficient, and cost-effective medicine. With a collection of features, including flexibility, light weight, low cost, and biocompatibility, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have provided compelling solutions to fulfill the new requirements for drug delivery systems. The combination of TENGs with microfluidics, electrophoresis, and iontophoresis technology presents a powerful strategy to achieve self-powered drug delivery systems. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert human biomechanical activities into electricity. They have been used in many biomedical and healthcare applications due to their attractive features such as the wide range of biocompatible materials, simple fabrication process, portable size, high output power, and low cost. Recently, they have been combined with drug delivery systems as an emerging technology to achieve on-demand and controllable release of drugs. This review comprehensively highlights the current development of TENG-based self-powered drug delivery systems from three different mechanisms, including microfluidics, electrophoresis, and iontophoresis. Although there are still some challenges remaining to be addressed, TENG-based drug delivery systems are promising as a new option for drug administration and could play an important role in personalized healthcare. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can convert human biomechanical activities into electricity. They have been used in many biomedical and healthcare applications due to their attractive features such as the wide range of biocompatible materials, simple fabrication process, portable size, high output power, and low cost. Recently, they have been combined with drug delivery systems as an emerging technology to achieve on-demand and controllable release of drugs. This review comprehensively highlights the current development of TENG-based self-powered drug delivery systems from three different mechanisms, including microfluidics, electrophoresis, and iontophoresis. Although there are still some challenges remaining to be addressed, TENG-based drug delivery systems are promising as a new option for drug administration and could play an important role in personalized healthcare. redistribution of electric charges in an object caused by the influence of nearby charges. the preferential accumulation of particles with a diameter less than 200 nm within tumors owing to leaky vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage. a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that can connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet. an overarching healthcare model that unifies predictive technologies with an engaged patient with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion. the study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs. a branch of pharmacology that focuses on the fate of substances administered to a living organism. devices that effectively convert mechanical motions into electric signals using the piezoelectric effect. a type of contact electrification, where certain materials become electrically charged after separation from a different material with which they were in contact.