RESUMEN
Self-powered electrical bandages (SEBs), integrated with wearable energy harvesters, can provide an effective and autonomous electrical stimulation (ES) solution for rapid and scarless wound healing. A continuously operating, wireless, and applicable-to-comprehensive-wound ES device is essential for the quick restoration of wounds and convenience. This work illustrates a SEB powered by body-coupled energy harvesting. The SEB continuously treats the wound with 60-Hz sinusoidal electrical potential gained from the coupling of the human body and ambient electrical waves. It is demonstrated that enough level of electrical potential can be applied to the wound, further enhanced by strong capacitive coupling arising from the use of high-permittivity poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene):CaCu3Ti4O12 (P(VDF-TrFE):CCTO) nanocomposite. The potential clinical efficacy of the SEB is illustrated by preclinical analysis of human fibroblasts and mouse wound model, thus confirming the successful expedition of wound recovery. This work suggests a new class of wearable devices to provide ES events and its potential for extension to other conventional wound care materials and device technology.
RESUMEN
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) provide practical approaches to monitor physiological parameters, diagnose diseases, and aid treatment. However, device installation, maintenance, and long-term implantation increase the risk of infection with conventional IMDs. Therefore, medical devices with biocompatibility, controllability, and miniaturization are highly demandable. An ultrasound-driven, biodegradable, and injectable triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) is demonstrated to reduce the risks of implant-related injuries and infections. The injection can be given by subcutaneous injection with a needle to minimize the implantation incision. The stable output of I-TENG is driven by ultrasound (20 kHz, 1 W cm-2 ), with a voltage of 356.8 mV and current of 1.02 µA during in vivo studies and an electric field of about 0.92 V mm-1 during ex vivo experiments. The cell scratch and proliferation assays showed that the delivered electric field effectively increased cell migration and proliferation, indicating a significant potential to accelerate healing with electricity.
