This battery is placed in a drop of water: how it works

Researchers from the University of Oxford have created an ultra-miniature lithium-ion battery that works on the basis of drops of biohydrogel. The new device has already been tested on mice, and in the future it will help in the treatment of heart diseases, drug delivery and the operation of medical nanorobots.

Scientists have developed a miniature lithium-ion battery for biomedical tasks that fits into a drop of water. The device can be used to stimulate the heart muscle, deliver drugs and power nanorobots. The technology has already been tested on mice, and in the future it will help in treating people.

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Based on the “drop battery” became a biohydrogel. The addition of surface-active substances forms a chain from the drops of biohydrogel: some drops play the role of separators, others – contain lithium ions. In the chain, ions move between the drops, creating a current and voltage at the ends of the “garland”.

Each drop has a volume of only 10 nL. All components of the battery are biodegradable and compatible with living tissues, which was confirmed by experiments on mice. The introduction of such a device into the heart tissue helps fight arrhythmia, one of the most frequent causes of death. The minimally invasive device stabilizes the heart's rhythm by preventing chaotic muscle contractions.

According to the Oxford scientists who applied for a patent, the “drop battery” can also provide medicine and feed medical nanorobots, preserving the health and lives of patients.