Abstract
Piezoelectricity, the ability of materials to generate electricity under stress, or conversely, the ability to deform under an electric potential, has been observed in many biological materials. The prevalence of piezoelectricity in living materials suggests that it may be a physiologically significant phenomenon. In this chapter, the origin of piezoelectricity in biological building blocks will be discussed, highlighting the recent findings of piezoelectricity in a non-fibrous protein. Finally, systems for which piezoelectricity has been proposed as the mechanism which supports physiological functions such as bone remodelling and hearing will be reviewed.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Electrically Active Materials for Medical Devices |
Publisher | Imperial College Press |
Pages | 237-251 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781783269877 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781783269860 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2016 |