Electrotherapy and health monitoring with piezoelectric and triboelectric technologies.

Jeon, Jinyoung; Kang, Donghyeon; Kim, Sang-Woo · Biomaterials · 2025

review · Level V

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Abstract

The growing need for advanced therapeutic and diagnostic technologies has spurred interest in self-powered systems for electrotherapy and health monitoring. Traditional battery-dependent medical devices (MDs) face limitations, including short operational lifespans and patient discomfort, underscoring the importance of sustainable alternatives. Mechanical energy harvesting technologies, such as piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators (PENGs and TENGs), have emerged as promising solutions, enabling real-time health monitoring and non-invasive electrotherapy by converting biomechanical energy into electricity. This review explores the latest advancements in PENG and TENG technologies, emphasizing their applications in wound healing, neural regeneration, and real-time physiological monitoring. Strategies to overcome hurdles are discussed, demonstrating the transformative potential of PENG and TENG systems in next-generation MDs. By integrating energy harvesting with therapeutic and monitoring functionalities, piezoelectric and triboelectric systems offer a path toward non-invasive, efficient, and patient-centric medical solutions.

Medical subject headings