UMass Amherst biohybrid mesh harvests electricity from beating heart cells

Researchers at UMass Amherst developed an ultrathin flexible polymer mesh with arrays of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ribbons that living heart cells grow into and around. Cell contractions deform the ribbons and generate electricity, reaching over 10 times the effective energy density of conventional harvesters. The work was published in Science Advances.

• PZT piezoelectric ribbons are distributed across a flexible mesh that cells grow into
• Effective energy density is more than 10 times that of centralized harvesters
• The technology targets battery-free power for implants and wearables