SBIR Phase I: 3D Micropillar Scaffolds for Self-Powered Bioelectric Stimulation

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to advance the development of a novel material compound capable of self-powered electrical generation and stimulation. This project will develop and validate a three-dimensional scaffold that generates its own low-level electrical current when activated by specific fluids, delivering therapeutic stimulation directly at the necessary surface without external power or equipment. This combination of structural scaffolding and self-powered electrical signaling, activated by specific fluids without external power or equipment, represents a fundamental advance in electroactive biomaterial design with broad applicability. The primary innovation of this project is the incorporation of dissimilar metallic nanoparticles into high-aspect-ratio polymer micropillars at concentrations sufficient to generate measurable, predictable galvanic current without compromising structural integrity. The scope of Phase I encompasses percolation threshold determination, micropillar fabrication validation, galvanic current characterization, and array scaling behavior, conducted using thermocompression molding, scanning electron microscopy, profilometry, four-point probe resistance testing, and electrochemical measurement in simulated fluids. This project will pursue two technical objectives: establishing the percolation threshold and validating reproducible micropillar fabrication; and demonstrating galvanic current generation from single pillar pairs with scaling in small arrays under relevant conditions. Success will be defined by reproducible pillar geometry, current output within target ranges, and stable scaling behavior. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.