Core/Shell Piezoelectric Nanofibers with Spatial Self-Orientated β-Phase Nanocrystals for Real-Time Micropressure Monitoring of Cardiovascular Walls

ACS Nano. 2019 Sep 24;13(9):10062-10073. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.9b02483. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

Abstract

Implantable pressure biosensors show great potential for assessment and diagnostics of pressure-related diseases. Here, we present a structural design strategy to fabricate core/shell polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)/hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HHE) organic piezoelectric nanofibers (OPNs) with well-controlled and self-orientated nanocrystals in the spatial uniaxial orientation (SUO) of β-phase-rich fibers, which significantly enhance piezoelectric performance, fatigue resistance, stability, and biocompatibility. Then PVDF/HHE OPNs soft sensors are developed and used to monitor subtle pressure changes in vivo. Upon implanting into pig, PVDF/HHE OPNs sensors demonstrate their ultrahigh detecting sensitivity and accuracy to capture micropressure changes at the outside of cardiovascular walls, and output piezoelectric signals can real-time and synchronously reflect and distinguish changes of cardiovascular elasticity and occurrence of atrioventricular heart-block and formation of thrombus. Such biological information can provide a diagnostic basis for early assessment and diagnosis of thrombosis and atherosclerosis, especially for postoperative recrudescence of thrombus deep within the human body.

Keywords: cardiovascular system; implantable micropressure sensor; internal pressure monitoring; organic piezoelectric nanofibers; self-orientated nanocrystals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular System / anatomy & histology*
  • Electricity*
  • Hydroxylamine / chemistry
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry
  • Pressure*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Organic Chemicals
  • Polyvinyls
  • polyvinylidene fluoride
  • Hydroxylamine