Human Tissues as Piezoelectric Biomaterials: Review and Perspectives for Biosensors

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.317592504122

• Palavras-chave: biomaterials, piezoelectricity, biosensors

• Keywords: biomaterials, piezoelectricity, biosensors

• Abstract:

  Piezoelectricity is the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical charge when mechanical pressure is applied to them and, conversely, to deform when subjected to an electric field. Although traditionally associated with inorganic crystals such as quartz, this phenomenon is also present in various biological materials in the human body, thanks to the non-centrosymmetric organization of structural proteins such as collagen and keratin.
  This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in the study of piezoelectric biomaterials present in bone, dental enamel and dentin, and keratinous tissues, particularly nails. Piezoelectricity in these tissues plays a key role in physiological processes such as bone adaptation and remodeling. The effects of various systemic pathologies, including diabetes, are also analyzed, as they can alter the structure, hydration, and molecular organization of tissues, significantly modifying their electromechanical behavior. Current evidence suggests that these alterations reduce the functional efficiency of piezoelectric tissues and open up new possibilities for early diagnosis, non-invasive monitoring, and the development of piezoelectricity-based biosensors.