Writing in the latest issue of the journal Nature scientists in the US outline their developement of novel brush-like fibres that generate electrical energy from movement. Weaving them into a material could allow designers to create "smart" clothes which harness body movement to power portable electronic gadgets.
Ottilia Saxl, chief executive of the Institute of Nanotechnology, believes the technology could also find a use in healthcare. "It could perhaps be used to power tiny medical devices like a true cochlear implant or heart pacemaker, or a delivery mechanism for subcutaneous drug delivery implants or antibiotic drug reservoirs for preventing infection in retinal implants," she said.
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