Researchers at the National Research University MIET are exploring glycine as a building block for medical electronics. The study, published in Physica Scripta, highlights new ways to harness this simple amino acid for advanced biomedical devices.
In collaboration with international partners, the team demonstrated that polishing glycine crystals at the micro and nano scales can boost their piezoelectric response. This improvement paves the way for compact, biocompatible electromechanical components that can operate inside the human body without provoking significant adverse reactions.
The work underscores a growing role for glycine-based materials in high‑tech medicine, where electrical elements embedded in implants can be controlled more precisely. Enhanced piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties could translate into better actuation, sensing, and energy harvesting within medical devices, potentially increasing their functionality and lifespan.
Maxim Silibin, associate professor at the Institute of Advanced Materials and Technologies, commented that molecular-scale polishing revealed stronger piezoelectric and ferroelectric activity. These findings suggest new routes for designing smart materials that respond to mechanical stimuli with reliable electrical signals, a key feature for next‑generation biomedical electronics.
Recent reviews in the scientific literature emphasize the ongoing need to understand the interaction between crystal structure, surface chemistry, and device performance. The MIET group’s results contribute to this broader effort by showing how surface refinement at the molecular level can meaningfully elevate material performance in real-world biomedical contexts.
Overall, the research points to a future where glycine-based crystals form the core of tiny, biocompatible devices that can be implanted or worn with minimal risk. The capability to tune electrical responses through controlled polishing opens opportunities in neural interfaces, cardiac monitoring, and other areas where gentle, reliable actuation is essential. Continued collaboration across laboratories and disciplines will be critical to translate these laboratory insights into practical medical technologies (Physica Scripta, 2023).