UMass Amherst creates ultra-thin biohybrid mesh that harvests power from human cells

A research group at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has devised an ultra-thin, flexible mesh that integrates human cardiac cells with a lead-zirconate-titanate material capable of converting mechanical and electrical cellular activity into usable power. Strips of this piezoelectric compound are embedded in a polymer substrate, then populated with lab-grown heart cells; their natural contractions produce an electrical voltage across the film.

According to the study, the biohybrid tissue delivers roughly tenfold the energy density of traditional implant batteries, meaning a far smaller component could sustain devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, or neural stimulators. Siqi Wang emphasized that every cell continuously generates energy, while Jun Yao noted the approach’s superior biocompatibility and reduced risk of rejection. Published in Science Advances, the work remains at the experimental stage, with further development needed before clinical use.