Ultrasonic/electrical dual stimulation response nanocomposite bioelectret for controlled precision drug release

Abstract

Electret materials have attracted extensive attention because of their permanent polarization and electrostatic effect. However, it is one of problem that needs to be solved in biological application to manipulate the change of surface charge of electret by external stimulation. In this work, a drug-loaded electret with flexibility and no cytotoxicity was prepared under relatively mild conditions. The electret can release the charge through stress change and ultrasonic stimulation, and the drug release can be accurately controlled with the help of ultrasonic and electric double stimulation response. Here, the dipoles like particles of carnauba wax nanoparticles (nCW) are fixed in the matrix based on the interpenetrating polymer network structure, and "frozen" oriented dipolar particles that are treated by thermal polarization and cooled at high field strength. Subsequently, the charge density of the prepared composite electret can reach 101.1​nC/m2 at the initial stage of polarization and 21.1​nC/m2 after 3 weeks. In addition, the stimulated change of electret surface charge flow under cyclic tensile stress and cyclic compressive stress can generate a current of 0.187​nA and 0.105​nA at most. The ultrasonic stimulation results show that when the ultrasonic emission power was 90% (Pmax​=​1200​W), the current of 0.472​nA can be generated. Finally, the drug release characteristics and biocompatibility of the nCW composite electret containing curcumin were tested. The results showed that it not only had the ability to accurately control the release by ultrasound, but also triggered the electrical effect of the material. The prepared drug loaded composite bioelectret provides a new way for the construction, design and testing of the bioelectret. Its ultrasonic and electrical double stimulation response can be accurately controlled and released as required, and it has broad application prospects.