KES6-0933
Triboelectric Medicine: Nanogenerator-Driven Breakthroughs in Self-Powered Biomedical Innovation
Topic
S6. Emerging Polymer and Hybrid Materials for Advanced Energy Storage and Conversion
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
14:00 - 14:25
Room 311 & 312
Session Chairs
Minsoo KIM
Presenter(s)
Sang-Woo Kim (Yonsei University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
The emergence of Triboelectric Medicine marks a paradigm shift in how we harness mechanical energy within the human body to drive bioelectronic functions for therapeutic purposes. This presentation will introduce a new class of ultrasound-driven triboelectric nanogenerators (US-TENGs) and their applications as self-sustained power sources and therapeutic actuators for implantable and wearable medical systems. Building upon the foundation of ultrasound-activated triboelectricity, our team demonstrated bioresorbable and electrode-free nerve block systems capable of drug-free, reversible pain control in rodent and porcine models. These devices, composed entirely of triboelectric polymers, generate alternating electric fields upon acoustic stimulation to modulate neural activity without rigid electronics or secondary surgeries. This bioresorbable triboelectric nerve cuff represents the first clinical translation of triboelectricity into an electronic medicine. Beyond pain control, the triboelectric paradigm extends to wound healing, antibacterial therapy, tissue regeneration, and neurostimulation, where self-powered systems convert biomechanical or acoustic energy into localized bioelectrical cues. The concept of “Triboelectric Medicine” therefore integrates energy harvesting, bioelectronics, and regenerative therapy into a unified field, paving the way toward battery-free, wireless, and biodegradable therapeutic systems. This plenary lecture will provide a vision for the future of biomedical engineering where mechanical energy becomes medicine, enabling sustainable and personalized healthcare through triboelectric principles.
