A Biodegradable Piezoelectric Sensor for Real‐Time Evaluation of the Motor Function Recovery After Nerve Injury

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2024-08, Vol.34 (33), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Shan, Yizhu, Wang, Engui, Cui, Xi, Xi, Yuan, Ji, Jianying, Yuan, Junlin, Xu, Lingling, Liu, Zhuo, Li, Zhou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; biodegradability; Biomechanics; Electronic implants; Injury prevention; motion evaluation; nerve injury; Nerves; piezoelectric sensor; Piezoelectricity; Polylactic acid; Sensors
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202400295

Nerve injury can lead to defects in related motor functions. It is critical to achieve long‐term and convenient real‐time evaluation of motor function recovery status during nerve injury repair. In this study, an implantable PLLA/BTO piezoelectric sensor (PBPS) with good biodegradability and biocompatibility for real time evaluation of the motor function recovery after nerve injury is developed. PLLA fibers doped with BTO are employed as piezoelectric material in PBPS, which can convert the biomechanical signals generated by motion into electrical signals. PBPS can be implant simultaneously with commonly used tissue scaffolds for treatment in the rats with sciatic nerve injury. The linearity of the pressure and the output voltage of PBPS is ≈0.9445. For the evaluation effectiveness, as the treatment process progresses, the signals generated by PBPS exhibited good consistency with EMG signals, indicating effectively evaluation of the motor function. Moreover, the integration of PBPS and wireless module can break the limitations of time and space for sensing and realize wireless evaluation of motor function in rat. The implantable sensor based on PBPS may bring new ideas for the development of implantable bioelectronics. The PBPS composed of PLLA/BTO fibers, Mo electrodes, and PCL films is implanted subcutaneously in the leg of a rat after nerve injury. During the reparation of nerve, the deformation of PBPS happens when rats move their legs, which in turn generate the electrical signal output. After transmitted by wireless module, it can realize real‐time motor function evaluation.