Sono-responsive Bio-MOF-11 as a triboelectric material for powering transient implants

Abstract

Recent progress in transient implantable medical devices (IMDs) has drawn attention to the necessity for biodegradable power sources, which can eliminate the need for secondary removal surgeries after implantation. However, relying solely on the material’s intrinsic biodegradation rate or device dimensions for biodegradation presents limitations. In this study, we propose an acoustically-mediated degradable-triboelectric nanogenerator (AMD-TENG) and its operating system as a transient implantable power source. We introduce the incorporation of Bio-MOF-11 into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) as a durable, high-performance triboelectric layer. Our findings demonstrate that the Bio-MOF-11/PLGA film, when exposed to low-intensity ultrasound, generates a stable electrical output of 12.5 V and 87.5 μA/cm², confirming its viability as a power source for IMDs. Additionally, the integration of surface pores allows for controlled biodegradation under high-intensity ultrasound, enabling on-demand dissolution and subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accelerate degradation. These results highlight the efficiency of the Bio-MOF-11/PLGA as a tribo-layer in electricity generation and controlled degradation, offering a sustainable and safe solution for powering and disposing of transient IMDs.