American University develops edible battery

According to recent reports from international media, a team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. has created a biodegradable battery using squid ink as its main component. This groundbreaking innovation was recently published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*. The battery is designed to power new types of oral drug delivery systems, offering a promising alternative to traditional injections. Dr. Bettinger, one of the lead researchers, highlighted that one of the most exciting applications of this technology is controlled drug release. Oral administration can help avoid the challenges many patients face with injectable medications, such as pain or difficulty in accessing veins. The biodegradable battery could be used in a pill-like device that travels through the digestive system and releases medication at the right time. Many drugs are ineffective when taken orally because they get broken down by the stomach before reaching their target. This new battery could change that. So far, the research team has developed battery prototypes and is now working on creating specific drug delivery devices for medical treatments like vaccines or arthritis therapies. These devices could also sense their location within the digestive tract, making them more precise and efficient. Although the battery’s energy capacity isn’t very high, its key advantage lies in its biocompatibility. Made from melanin and manganese oxide—both of which break down into non-toxic materials—the battery is safe for use inside the body. Melanin, derived from squid ink, has unique nanostructures that make it semi-conductive and highly effective at storing charge. Interestingly, natural melanin outperforms lab-made versions in terms of charge storage, and it's already present in small amounts in the human body. Despite being made from biocompatible materials, the battery doesn't dissolve quickly in the digestive system. It takes several weeks or months to fully degrade, allowing it enough time to deliver the drug effectively. Compared to regular batteries, biodegradable ones are much safer for use in ingestible electronic devices. As Bettinger noted, “If it gets stuck somewhere in the body, it won’t cause harm.” The team is continuing to explore the conductive properties of melanin. With deeper understanding, they hope to develop new materials with even more advanced features. Beyond medicine, these batteries have potential in various other fields. Bettinger envisions using them to power biodegradable sensors or monitors in sensitive environments. For example, in the event of an oil spill, such devices could be deployed in the ocean to detect pollutants and send data back to researchers. Once the battery is used up, the device would safely degrade in the environment without causing harm. This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for sustainable and safe electronic systems in both medical and environmental applications.

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