Piezoelectric nanogenerators for self-powered wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices

One of the recent innovations in the field of personalized healthcare is the piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) for various clinical applications, including self-powered sensors, drug delivery, tissue regenera-tion etc. Such innovations are perceived to potentially address some of the unmet clinical needs, e.g., limited life-span of implantable biomedical devices (e.g., pacemaker) and replacement related compli-cations. To this end, the generation of green energy from biomechanical sources for wearable and im-plantable bioelectronic devices gained considerable attention in the scientific community. In this per-spective, this article provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art review on the recent developments in the processing, applications and associated concerns of piezoelectric materials (synthetic/biological) for per-sonalized healthcare applications. In particular, this review briefly discusses the concepts of piezoelectric energy harvesting, piezoelectric materials (ceramics, polymers, nature-inspired), and the various appli-cations of piezoelectric nanogenerators, such as, self-powered sensors, self-powered pacemakers, deep brain stimulators etc. Important distinction has been made in terms of the potential clinical applications of PENGs, either as wearable or implantable bioelectronic devices. While discussing the potential applica-tions as implantable devices, the biocompatibility of the several hybrid devices using large animal models is summarized. This review closes with the futuristic vision of integrating data science approaches in de-velopmental pipeline of PENGs as well as clinical translation of the next generation PENGs.Statement of significancePiezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) hold great promise for transforming personalized healthcare through self-powered sensors, drug delivery systems, and tissue regeneration. The limited battery life of implantable devices like pacemakers presents a significant challenge, leading to complications from repi-titive surgeries. To address such a critical issue, researchers are focusing on generating green energy from biomechanical sources to power wearable and implantable bioelectronic devices. This comprehensive re-view critically examines the latest advancements in synthetic and nature-inspired piezoelectric materials for PENGs in personalized healthcare. Moreover, it discusses the potential of piezoelectric materials and data science approaches to enhance the efficiency and reliability of personalized healthcare devices for clinical applications.(c) 2023 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.