Biopolymer Materials in Triboelectric Nanogenerators: A Review.

In advancing the transition of the energy sector toward heightened sustainability and environmental friendliness, biopolymers have emerged as key elements in the construction of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) due to their renewable sources and excellent biodegradability. The development of these TENG devices is of significant importance to the next generation of renewable and sustainable energy technologies based on carbon-neutral materials. This paper introduces the working principles, material sources, and wide-ranging applications of biopolymer-based triboelectric nanogenerators (BP-TENGs). It focuses on the various categories of biopolymers, ranging from natural sources to microbial and chemical synthesis, showcasing their significant potential in enhancing TENG performance and expanding their application scope, while emphasizing their notable advantages in biocompatibility and environmental sustainability. To gain deeper insights into future trends, we discuss the practical applications of BP-TENG in different fields, categorizing them into energy harvesting, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. Finally, the paper reveals the shortcomings, challenges, and possible solutions of BP-TENG, aiming to promote the advancement and application of biopolymer-based TENG technology. We hope this review will inspire the further development of BP-TENG towards more efficient energy conversion and broader applications.

Characterization of bacteriophage vB_KleM_KB2 possessing high control ability to pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a widespread pathogen of several human diseases. The emergence of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae makes the treatment of these diseases a significant challenge. The application of bacteriophages is a potential approach for dealing with the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. This study isolates a novel bacteriophage vB_KleM_KB2 that infects the multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae. The bacteriophage exhibits a short latent period of 10 min, and can effectively lyse the bacterium within 60 min. Notably, the bacteriophage can completely inhibit the growth of the host bacterium at the initial concentration of 107 CFU/mL with a low multiplicity of infection of 0.001, which proves its high lytic activity. Furthermore, the bacteriophage shows high environmental tolerances, which can facilitate the practical application of the bacteriophage. Analysis of the bacteriophage genome shows that the bacteriophage possesses a novel genome sequence and can represent a new bacteriophage genus. Considering the high lytic activity, short latent period, high stability, and novel genetic background, bacteriophage vB_KleM_KB2 enriches the bacteriophage library and provides a new alternative for controlling the diseases caused by multidrug-resistant pathogenic K. pneumoniae.

Biophysical Sensors Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can not only collect mechanical energy around or inside the human body and convert it into electricity but also help monitor our body and the world by providing interpretable electrical signals during energy conversion, thus emerging as an innovative medical solution for both daily health monitoring and clinical treatment and bringing great convenience. This review tries to introduce the latest technological progress of TENGs for applications in biophysical sensors, where a TENG functions as a either a sensor or a power source, and in some cases, as both parts of a self-powered sensor system. From this perspective, this review begins from the fundamental working principles and then concisely illustrates the recent progress of TENGs given structural design, surface modification, and materials selection toward output enhancement and medical application flexibility. After this, the medical applications of TENGs in respiratory status, cardiovascular disease, and human rehabilitation are covered in detail, in the form of either textile or implantable parts for pacemakers, nerve stimulators, and nerve prostheses. In addition, the application of TENGs in driving third-party medical treatment systems is introduced. Finally, shortcomings and challenges in TENG-based biophysical sensors are highlighted, aiming to provide deeper insight into TENG-based medical solutions for the development of TENG-based self-powered electronics with higher performance for practical applications.