Next Generation Antimicrobial Piezoelectric Materials for Implantable Energy Harvesting Devices

Central nervous system (CNS) injuries and diseases are among the most debilitating and challenging medical conditions, often resulting in irreversible damage. Neural stem cell transplantation holds promise for tissue regeneration, but its success relies on providing a suitable microenvironment for cell growth and differentiation. This project aims to explore novel polymer piezoelectric composites with antimicrobial properties for the development of implantable energy harvesting devices that can support neural stem cell transplantation and CNS tissue regeneration.
Project objectives are listed below:

Materials development: explore and synthesise polymer piezoelectric composites with inherent antimicrobial properties, ensuring compatibility with implantation within the CNS.
Energy harvesting device design: develop and optimise implantable energy harvesting devices capable of converting mechanical movements within the CNS into electrical energy, addressing the challenges of longevity and biocompatibility.

Antimicrobial assessment: evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the developed materials, emphasizing the creation of a sterile environment for successful neural stem cell transplantation.
Integration with neural stem cells: investigate the interaction between the energy harvesting devices and neural stem cells, focusing on cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation within the implantation site.

Data analysis and interpretation: analyse and interpret the data obtained from materials characterization, antimicrobial testing, biocompatibility assessments, and stem cell integration studies to draw scientifically significant conclusions.