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Self-powered wearable sensing systems have attracted great attention for their application in continuous health monitoring, which can reveal real-time physiological information on the body. Here, an innovative self-powered sound-driven humidity sensor for wearable intelligent dehydration monitoring system has been proposed. The sensor is primarily comprised of PTFE membrane, ZnO nanoarrays and Ti thin film. The piezoelectric/triboelectric effect of ZnO nanoarrays/PTFE membrane is coupled with the humidity sensing process. Sound wave can drive PTFE membrane to vibrate, and the contact and separation between PTFE and ZnO can generate electrical signals through piezoelectric/triboelectric effect. At the same time, the surface of the nanostructures can absorb the water molecules, which will influence the electrical output of the device. The device can convert sound energy into electrical output without any external electricity power supply, and the outputting voltage decreases with increasing relative humidity, acting as the sensing signal. The sensor has been integrated with data processing unit and wireless transmission module to form a self-powered wearable intelligent dehydration monitoring system, which can actively monitor the humidity of exhaled breath and transmit the information to the mobile phone. The results can open a possible new direction for the development of sound-driven gas sensors and will further expand the scope for self-powered nanosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone traumatic injuries, enduring a prolonged healing process since it involves a series of bio events, becomes gradually challenging with increasing aging population. The integration of a home-based therapy strategy with emerging microelectronic technology holds promise for optimizing the whole long-term healing process of bone defect. Given the bioelectric properties of bone, utilizing biomedical electronics to providing external electric field (EF) is preferred for physical therapy strategies. Our study provides a wireless implantable bone-electronic interface (IBEI) based on ultrasonic-driven battery-free piezoelectric technology. The IBEI without percutaneous leads can effectively complete the process of converting ultrasonic signals into electric signals and finally into biological signals for bone repair. This system is miniatured, battery-free, wireless, controllable, biocomfortable and biosafe with high osteogenic efficiency. For the underlying mechanism, the EF can activate multicellular synergistic osteogenesis and up-regulate the Ca2+/CaMKIIα/CREB signal pathway in osteogenesis effector cells. The IBEI aligns with the future trajectory of home-based medicine, presenting a commendable therapy pattern for doctor-patient collaboration and offering a novel perspective in the realm of physical therapy. [Display omitted] • Self-powered home-based therapy strategy optimizes the healing process of bone defect in a rapid and biocomfortable way. • IBEI efficiently converts ultrasonic signals into electric signals, providing an exogenous EF for bone defect treatment. • IBEI can activate multicellular synergistic osteogenesis and up-regulate the Ca2+/CaMKIIα/CREB signal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For both professional and amateur athletes, perspiration analysis technique is considered as a powerful tool for real-time monitoring the athletes' physiological status during sports. This study presents an innovative self-powered wireless sweat-analysis patch worn on the skin for real-time monitoring chloride concentration and pH levels in perspiration. The patch consists of two main components: self-powered unit and sensing unit. The power unit, made of piezoelectric ceramic materials, converts mechanical energy during exercise into electrical energy to drive the whole system. The sensing unit has the functions of sampling and analyzing the sweat, and wireless communication. Through an exactly designed hydrophobic and hydrophilic composite microchannel structure, sweat is effectively guided to the storage chamber. The colorimetric fabrics embedded in the chamber respond to the presence of chloride ions and pH levels in the sweat, producing a color-changing reaction. Color sensors above the fabrics detects these color changes for analyzing the sweat, while Near Field Communication (NFC) technology wirelessly transmits this information to outside mobile devices or data-collection cloud. This system not only provides a new avenue for real-time monitoring of athletes' health status but also offers a scientific basis for adjusting training plans. [Display omitted] • The patch converts mechanical energy into electrical energy offers a new way to work for longer periods. • The patch can monitor chloride levels and pH in sweat in real-time. • The combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic microchannel structure directs the sweat. • Color sensors and NFC technology improve the convenience and efficiency of data transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal jaundice refers to the abnormality of bilirubin metabolism for newborns, and wearable transcutaneous bilirubin meters for real-time measuring the bilirubin concentration is an insistent demand for the babies' parents and doctors. In this paper, a self-powered wearable biosensor in a baby diaper for real-time monitoring neonatal jaundice has been realized by the hydrovoltaic-biosensing coupling effect of ZnO nanoarray. Without external power supply, the system can work independently, and the hydrovoltaic output can be treated as both the power source and biosensing signal. The working mechanism is that the hydrovoltaic output arises from the urine flowing on ZnO nanoarray and the enzymatic reaction on the surface can influence the output. The sensing information can be transmitted through a wireless transmitter, and thus the parents and doctors can treat the neonatal jaundice of babies in time. This work can potentially promote the development of next generation of biosensors and physiological monitoring system, and expand the scope of self-powered technique and smart healthcare area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a growing global health concern, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising technology with minimal side effects for cancer treatment. Miniaturized PDT devices that offer a flexible and convenient strategy for the low-dose delivery of light or drugs are needed to replace invasive optical fibers. Here, we present a self-powered, wireless, and detachable drug/light injector that conforms to the properties of metronomic PDT for cancer treatment. The device comprises a semi-invasive pedestal with a micro light emitting diode (μ-LED) and a syringe needle, and a detachable actuator that contains a drug reservoir, a thermally-driven pump, and a wireless control circuit. The two parts are magnetically attracted to each other, and the detachable actuator can be conveniently replaced or refilled with drugs. The device can be wirelessly controlled to deliver on-demand dosages of drugs and light into the tumor under the skin. Additionally, we further demonstrate that the device can in principle be partially self-powered using body motion energy upon connection to different piezoelectric nanogenerators. In-vitro and in-vivo experiments on mice have demonstrated the feasibility of the device's therapeutic regimen for implementing metronomic PDT. The average volume of tumors in the treatment group was reduced by 57.4 % compared to the control group. This device has potential applications in future clinical cancer treatment and can expand the scope of self-powered systems for biomedical engineering. [Display omitted] • A self-powered wireless injector enabling precise drug delivery and light activation for PDT of cancer. • Self-powering through harvesting human motion energy. • Portable and wireless design for long-term and remote utilization. • In-vitro and in-vivo experiments for demonstrating the therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension, a common cardiovascular disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure levels, is conventionally managed using pharmacological interventions to achieve optimal blood pressure control. In this study, a novel self-powered, biocompatible brain probe is presented as a potential long-term and remote approach to blood pressure regulation. The device consists of a piezoelectric transducer, an electronic module, brain stimulating electrodes, and a drug microneedle array. As the resonator, the piezoelectric transducer is embedded in resonant structure within resin shell, enabling the harvesting of acoustic energy from smartphone audio tone without any external power sources. By programming specific audio signals, the resonator can be activated, and the electronic module can output corresponding electrostimulation signals on demand. Implanted brain stimulating electrodes in the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey matter (vlPAG) of rats can be wirelessly controlled by the smartphone, resulting in a significant reduction in blood pressure of approximately 20 mmHg. The device's drug microneedle array, located beneath the pedestal of device, can deliver antibiotics percutaneously to prevent post-surgical infections, indicating a biocompatible approach for long-term hypertension treatment. This novel, self-powered and wireless treatment has significant potential for clinical hypertension therapy and may broaden the scope of self-powered techniques for telemedicine and brain-machine interfaces. [Display omitted] • A self-powered biocompatible brain probe was fabricated for long-term and remote neural regulation. • The device is self-powered by converting acoustic energy from smartphone audio into electricity. • The device can deliver electrostimulation signals to the vlPAG brain region for reducing blood pressure. • The device utilizes a drug-delivery microneedle array for preventing post-surgical infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural regulation that is tele-controlled remotely by medical professionals or artificial intelligence (AI) agents can meet the requirement of rapid, precise, personalized intervention and optimize the allocation of medical resources. Here, we develop a new self-powered wireless mini-invasive brain probe for remote intelligent neuroregulation. The probe can be wirelessly powered and controlled by cellphone audio tones (through piezoelectric effect) with the assistance of AI cellphone video analysis. The probe consists of a biocompatible pedestal integrated with implanting stimulation electrodes connected to embedded magnets and a magnetically coupled custom-designed signal-intensifying resonator integrated with a piezoelectric powered signal modulation circuit. A programmed audio tone functions as the wireless power source, and it can be tele-transmitted remotely from other cellphones with desired neural stimulation protocols. Combined with AI-enabled video monitoring of the epileptic tremor, we show that the probe can relieve the seizure events in the epileptic mice, and the therapeutic effect is confirmed by in-vivo electroencephalography and free-moving scenario. The multi-functionality of versatility, AI-assistance, wireless power transfer, and tele-transmission of the cellphone-interacted brain probe opens the possibility for remote precision neural modulation. [Display omitted] • Achieving rapid, precise, personalized neural intervention and optimizing the allocation of medical resources. • Being wirelessly self-powered by cellphone for AI-assistant remote neural modulation. • The audio tone of cellphone can conveniently power the brain probe wirelessly. • The programed audio tone with specific patterns can be customized for different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel self-powered wearable motion sensor for monitoring the spiking gesture of volleyball athletes has been manufactured from piezoelectric PVDF film. The PVDF film can convert body mechanical energy into electricity through the piezoelectric effect, and the flexible device can be conformably attached on the hand or arm. The sensor can work independently without power supply and actively output piezoelectric signals as the sports information. The sensor can detect the tiny and fine motion of spiking movement in playing volleyball, reflecting the skill. Additionally, the sensor can also real-time monitor the pulse changes and language during a volleyball match. The self-powered sensors can link to a wireless transmitter for uploading the sports information and building big sports data. This work can provoke a new direction for real-time sports monitoring and promote the development of big sports data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]