PhD Thesis Defense by Marc Navarro Pons, predoctoral researcher at IMB-CNM (Nemesys Lab)
Supervisors:
- Dr. Gonzalo Murillo
Panel of examiners:
- President: Stephan Sylvest Keller
- Secretary: Maria del Mar Álvarez Sánchez
- Member: Rosana Maria Alves Dias
University: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
About the thesis
Electrical signals regulate cellular processes, including communication, proliferation, and differentiation. Electrical cell stimulation harnesses these mechanisms to influence biological activity, offering opportunities for tissue repair and regeneration. Bioelectronic technologies and electroceuticals deliver controlled electrical cues to cells and tissues, opening new possibilities for targeted therapies and minimally invasive medical interventions.
This thesis develops complementary piezoelectric platforms for bioelectronic applications using aluminum nitride microresonators and biodegradable silk fibroin scaffolds. The silicon microdevices convert ultrasound into electrical cues for cell stimulation, with calcium imaging revealing enhanced cellular responses compared with controls. Complementing this approach, electrospun silk fibroin provides biodegradable nanofiber scaffolds and microparticles whose piezoelectric properties were enhanced through methanol crystallization. Biological assessment demonstrated that these silk structures support cell viability, proliferation, and keratinocyte differentiation. Together, these platforms explore how piezoelectric materials can combine wireless electrical stimulation with scaffold functionality, providing complementary strategies for developing future electroceutical technologies and tissue regeneration applications.
