International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research Vol. 4, No. 2, April 2015
Bionics Based Solar Powered Clothing for
Treating Parkinson’s Disease and Epilepsy
Shweta Gupta
Electronics and Communication Department, Dr. K. N. Modi University, Newai, Rajasthan, India
Shivakar and Vinay Kumar Singh
Applied Science Department, Dr. K. N. MIET, Modinagar, India
Email: [email protected]

Abstract—This research paper incorporates bionics based
solar powered clothing for treatment of Parkinson’s disease
and Epilepsy. Firstly, the clothing will use the most recent
research and technology in which the electronic circuit
would be embedded to store data (such as tremors of
Parkinson’s disease and Epilepsy) and deliver drugs to
specific parts of the brain, thus, preventing the cumbersome
method of surgery by the method of neurostimulator.
Secondly, the electronic circuit will be charged by solar
source of energy.
This research paper involves bionic based UV-treated
natural fiber fabric, such as cotton or linen, in which
electronic circuit is embedded with, nanomaterials based,
sensors (to sense the tremors and body temperature), drug
delivery components and memory to provide stimulation to
specific regions of the brain to treat Parkinson’s disease and
epilepsy. These fabrics are worn on the head to treat the
brain diseases. These fabrics work two way, they sense the
tremors by tension and compression of the muscle and then,
deliver medicine through the skin to appropriate regions of
the brain.
as shown in Fig. 1. Parkinson’s disease is a slowly
progressive disorder that affects movement, muscle
control, and balance [3]. Part of the disease process
develops as cells are destroyed in certain parts of the
brain stem, particularly the crescent-shaped cell mass
known as the substantia nigra.
Figure 1. Substantia Nigra region of brain.
Index Terms—solar powered clothing, Parkinson’s disease,
epilepsy, bionics, neurostimulator
If we go deeper in the study of the cause of the disease,
then, it is due to accumulation of a protein called alphasynuclein into inclusions called Lewy bodies in neurons
and the dopamine protein is insufficiently formed in
neurons of the midbrain. Early in the course of the
disease, the most obvious symptoms are movementrelated shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and
difficulty with walking as shown in Fig. 2. Other
symptoms include sensory, sleep and emotional problems.
Later, thinking and behavioral problems may arise.
Epilepsy is a common and diverse set of chronic
neurological disorders characterized by seizures (fits).
Epilepsy requires that seizures not be recurrent and
unprovoked.
It is at times not cured, with medication, thus Deep
Brain Stimulation (Neurostimulators) is used as shown in
Fig. 3.
But Neurostimulators is the form of surgery in the
body, with benefits as well as risks. Few benefits are
significant and sustained reduction in chronic pain
improved ability to function and participate in activities
of daily living, less oral pain medications. It is proven
safe and effective when used as directed. It is tested in
studies worldwide. Reversible and non-destructive – the
therapy can be turned off or surgically removed [4].
I. INTRODUCTION
Bionics is a branch of science which involves the
application of biological methods and systems which we
see in nature like birds flying etc. and we, thus,
developed aeroplanes and other engineering systems and
modern technology. Examples of bionics in engineering
include the hulls of boats imitating the thick skin of
dolphins; sonar, radar, and medical ultrasound imaging
imitating the echolocation of bats [1]. In the field of
electronics, the study of bionics has produced artificial
neurons, artificial neural networks, and intelligence. How
can bionics be helpful in harnessing solar energy, can be
the fact, we studied how nature based polymer is used to
make the fabric that provides for the charging of the
polymer embedded electronic circuit [2].
Parkinson’s disease is the degenerative disorder of the
brain. Its main cause is the death of the dopamine
generating cells in the mid brain, known as Substantia
Nigra region of the brain in the central nervous system,

Manuscript received January 4, 2015; revised March 2, 2015
©2015 Int. J. Life Sci. Biotech. Pharm. Res.
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International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research Vol. 4, No. 2, April 2015
energy into electrical energy to charge the polymer
embedded electronic circuit. We use silicon based
organic polymer to make Solar Powered Clothing.
Figure 2. People suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Figure 4. Internal architecture of wireless Closed Deep Brain
Stimulation (CDBS).
Figure 3. Implantable neurostimulator.
Risks in Neurostimulation involves neurostimulation
implant, surgically placed under the skin so surgical
complications are possible and may include infection,
pain at the site of surgery, and bleeding into the epidural
space. Once the neurostimulation system is implanted,
device complications may occur and include corrective
surgery, jolting, lead breaking and movement of the lead
within the epidural space which may require
reprogramming or surgical replacement of the leads [5].
Instead of integrated Deep Brain Stimulation
Technique (DBS), the Wireless Log-based Closed-loop
Deep Brain Stimulation (CDBS) with two-way Wireless
Telemetry came up as the new research as shown in Fig.
4 with its internal architecture and model as shown in Fig.
5. The device was placed under the collar bone the
Scapula and the sternum. This helped to minimize tissue
damage. It fits to standard tools with stable and
biocompatible characteristics. Electrodes should be stiff
enough to resist insertion forces during surgery and be
able to position the probe channels precisely close to the
small Subthalmic Nigra Region (STN) [6]. But still the
cost and infection risks were there and the surgery was
cumbersome. Though the number of leads reduced and
device was controlled wirelessly.
Thus we came up with the bionics based embedded
solar photovoltaic cell based fabric that convert solar
©2015 Int. J. Life Sci. Biotech. Pharm. Res.
Figure 5. Model of Closed Loop Deep Brain Stimulation (CDBS).
Figure 6. Solar cells embedded fabric.
Fig. 6 shows polymer embedded electronic circuit is as
thin as the hair and is resistant to sweat, water damage
and other wear and tear and provide stimulation to
particular regions of the brain for treatment of brain
diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Epilepsy.
The fabric embedded electronic circuit works two
ways, it can sense the tremors of Parkinson’s disease and
epilepsy and then, at the same time it can pass the
medicine to the specific regions of the brain to prevent
the tremors. Thus, preventing the need for surgery and
previously, embedding the neurostimulators in the brain
which involved cumbersome method of surgery and
involved the infection risks [7].
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International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research Vol. 4, No. 2, April 2015
release in the body accordingly, if the symptoms are
found [13]. Now comes the question of providing battery
back up to the circuit. Since we know the concept of
converting solar energy into electrical energy. Thus, the
clothing is embedded with solar photovoltaic cells, which
converts solar energy to electrical energy. The clothing is
embedded with silicon nanowires [14] as shown in Fig. 9.
The main aim of the solar clothing embedded with
silicon wires is it’s time to put on your Wearable Solar
outfit - because while it’s not the most conservative
looking clothing, it’s definitely one of the most
functional, avant garde pieces you can wear. We have
created flexible solar photovoltaic cells that can be sewn
into clothing and worn , and thus , harness solar energy
and store it as electrical energy , which can further be
used to charge the tattoo thin electronic circuit [8].
II. COMPOSITION
The flexible, stretchable electronics, in the “closed
Loop feedback system “provides the statistical analysis
which helps to realize symptoms of disease and help in
infusion of drug and medicine through the skin. Fig. 7
shows electronic patch is made of sensors, memory, and
drug delivery components which are fabricated on the
stretchable polymer substrate which is soft and flexible
and resistant to water like human hair. On the top of the
electronic patch, it has printed three things: silicon
nonmaterial based strain sensor arrays, gold and
chromium wires of nano size that act as both heaters and
temperature sensors and it also has drug embedded
silicon nanoparticles [9]. The sensors are used to sense
tremors of Parkinson’s disease in the body. The heaters
are used to infuse drug into specific parts of the brain
because as tremors are sensed they reduce the bonding
between nano particles and drugs, thus, drug is infused in
the body. The temperature sensors, in turn, also sense the
temperature of the skin during drug delivery for the
prevention of any sort of burns. On the top of hair thin
patch of polymer based clothing, is embedded with
silicon based nanomaterial made sensors, in the form of
arrays, serpentine gold and chromium nanowires that act
as temperature and heat sensors, drug filled porous silica
nanoparticles [10].
The sensors detect the tremors of Parkinson’s disease.
The heat sensors control the temperature of polymer
which help in the infusion of medicine in the body, in the
specific parts of the brain (heat helps in the degradation
of physical bonding between the drugs and nanoparticles)
as shown in Fig. 8. The temperature sensors used along
with it are used to monitor skin temperature [11]. One of
the most unique part of this electronic patch is memory
that is stretchable nonvolatile memory, using metal oxide
nanomaterial based membranes. There are three layers of
gold nanoparticles between between ultra thin titanium
oxide nanomembranes printed on aluminium electrodes.
The bending and twisting of memory device is not
affected, even if it is twisted to 125 percent of it’s
original length or even stretched about 1000 times [12].
Figure 7. Medicine and sensors embedded patch.
Figure 8. Sensors and circuit embedded.
Figure 9. Solar powered clothing.
IV. BIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
The electronic patches powered by the Solar clothing
involve the redox reactions on the surface of the skin.
The ionic current flows is using the voltage gated ion
channels. It results in cell polarizations by the creation of
ion gradients. It involves dopant interactions with cell
surface glycoprotein and ECM proteins [15]. Depending
upon the surface tension and compression of the body
muscles, if they match as that of Parkinson’s disease and
III. WORKING
This nano thin electronic patch is placed on the body,
which measures the tremors of Parkinson’s disease, by
measuring the compression and tension of the muscle.
Thus the “closed loop electronic circuit” senses the
tremors and determines whether they are Parkinson’s
disease or epilepsy symptoms. And initiates the drug
©2015 Int. J. Life Sci. Biotech. Pharm. Res.
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International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research Vol. 4, No. 2, April 2015
TABLE I. RELATED TABLE OF SURFACE AREA VERSUS MASS
ADSORBED
Epilepsy, it results in dopant release and sequestration of
soluble growth factors as shown in Fig. 10.
Glycol in
Oxidant
Layer
(wt.%)
0
24
68
61
Surface area
(%increase)
7.6
0.7
2.8
1.5
Mass
adsorbed
(ng/cm2)
1371
1227
1246
1481
f/D
-20.7
-15.5
-16.1
-15.8
Figure 10. Biological background of medicine induction process.
Besides using silicon in the Solar Powered Clothing,
we can use Organic Conductors which are Intelligent
Polymers (formula shown in Figure 11), they are smarter
than average polymer. Metal are harder, expensive and
unable to deliver drugs. Organic Conductors are soft,
ability to change properties and deliver drugs easily and
inexpensive [16].
Cell interactions at surfaces are understood by protein
interactions at the skin surfaces as in Fig. 12. There are
two type of interactions: cell interactions and interactions
under stimulus [17]. By reducing potential, increases
mass adsorbed per area and results in the less hydrated,
less viscoelastic protein layer as shown in Table I.
Examining cell interactions mediated by protein
interactions. Cell area on charged surfaces was found to
be cell type dependent as shown in Fig. 13.
Figure 13. Related graphs of applied potential (vs. Ag/AgCl) and mass
adsorbed (ng/cm2).
Fig. 14 shows 3D architecture of Wet Spinning Fibres
which are eventually embedded in the Solar Powered
Clothing used to charge electronic patch.
Tattoo thin electronic patch uses soft, flexible
materials that house a 4-centimeter long, 2-centimeter
wide, 3-millimeter thick device that contains sensors,
RAM capabilities, microheaters and medicine as shown
in Fig. 15. The patch sticks to skin through electrostatic
force as any adhesives would disrupt electrical
connectivity [18].
Figure 11. Conducting polymers.
Figure 14. 3D architecture of wet spinning fibres.
Thus, we have successfully studied the new research
for treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Epilepsy that
would remove surgery and would be more patient
friendly.
V. CONCLUSION
Thus, we have found out through the new
breakthrough in technology and innovation that surgery
would be replaced by electronic patches that would not
only be sensing tremors of Parkinson’s disease and
epilepsy but, at the same time, provide for the medication
Figure 12. Procedure of interaction of extraordinary Electro materials
with the skin.
©2015 Int. J. Life Sci. Biotech. Pharm. Res.
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and stimulation through cells in the specific regions of
the brain. Electronic patches would be powered by solar
energy harnessed by the silicon wires embedded solar
clothing.
Figure 15. Clear view of electronic patch.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author from the depth of her heart would like to
thank her parents and colleagues, with whose instigation
she is able to put forward this research idea, which would
be a boon for the patients of Parkinson’s disease and
epilepsy and further research would work wonders and
replace surgery, which has side effects and risks of
infection.
Shweta Gupta belongs to Meerut, Uttar
Pradesh, India. She is throughout convent
educated in St. Thomas English Medium,
Meerut. She secured 90% in Xth standard
from I.C.S.E. Board and was all India topper
in chemistry in XII standard in C.B.S.E.
Board. She did her engineering in electronics
from Pune University from Amrutvahini
College of Engineering, Sangamner,
Maharashtra, India in 2002. Then, she
recieved her M.S. from Bits Pilani in 2006,
and got executive MBA in international business from IIM Lucknow in
2012. Presently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in biomedical electronics,
particularly in brain diseases from Dr. K. N. Modi University, Newai,
Rajasthan.
She worked in various colleges like M.I.E.T., Meerut, India, and
several companies like Techmahindra. Presently she works in Dr. K. N.
Modi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Modinagar, India. She
is selected as Blind Peer reviewer recently in renouned journal “British
Journal of Medicine and Medical Research. She was invited in
Petroleum University Conference, UPES, Dehradun, India. And her
thesis has been asked for publishing by Lap Lambert Publishing House,
Germany.
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©2015 Int. J. Life Sci. Biotech. Pharm. Res.
Vinay K Singh is from University of
Lucknow and is currently a director in Dr.
KNMEC, UP Technical University, India. He
started his career in the field of medicinal
chemistry. His current research focuses on the
CADD analysis and drug development for
cancer with special reference to EGFR and
consequently their application in imaging
modalities.
Shivakar received his Ph.D. in Mathematics and worked as the dean
academics in Dr. K. N. Modi Institute of Engineering and Technology,
Modinagar, Ghaziabad.
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