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Biodegradable Monocrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Microcells as Power Supplies for Transient Biomedical Implants
Author(s) -
Lu Luyao,
Yang Zijian,
Meacham Kathleen,
Cvetkovic Caroline,
Corbin Elise A.,
VázquezGuardado Abraham,
Xue Mantian,
Yin Lan,
Boroumand Javaneh,
Pakeltis Grace,
Sang Tian,
Yu Ki Jun,
Chanda Debashis,
Bashir Rashid,
Gereau Robert W.,
Sheng Xing,
Rogers John A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201703035
Subject(s) - monocrystalline silicon , materials science , photovoltaic system , optoelectronics , transient (computer programming) , biomedical engineering , silicon , diode , electrical engineering , computer science , engineering , operating system
Bioresorbable electronic materials serve as foundations for implantable devices that provide active diagnostic or therapeutic function over a timeframe matched to a biological process, and then disappear within the body to avoid secondary surgical extraction. Approaches to power supply in these physically transient systems are critically important. This paper describes a fully biodegradable, monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) platform based on microscale cells (microcells) designed to operate at wavelengths with long penetration depths in biological tissues (red and near infrared wavelengths), such that external illumination can provide realistic levels of power. Systematic characterization and theoretical simulations of operation under porcine skin and fat establish a foundational understanding of these systems and their scalability. In vivo studies of a representative platform capable of generating ≈60 µW of electrical power under 4 mm of porcine skin and fat illustrate an ability to operate blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as subdermal implants in rats for 3 d. Here, the PV system fully resorbs after 4 months. Histological analysis reveals that the degradation process introduces no inflammatory responses in the surrounding tissues. The results suggest the potential for using silicon photovoltaic microcells as bioresorbable power supplies for various transient biomedical implants.