Self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator patch with ZIF-67 integrated conductive hydrogel for infected wound healing

Abstract The clinical management of infected wounds remains challenging due to limitations of conventional therapies and risks of bacterial infections. Though electrical stimulation (ES) is promising for infected wound healing, conventional ES devices face practical barriers. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a new strategy for ES in wound healing, yet bacterial infections can corrode TENG materials and reduce their efficacy. Here, we developed a self-powered wound dressing system based on TENG, incorporating an antibacterial conductive hydrogel composed of polydopamine (PDA), polyacrylamide (PAM), and metal-organic framework zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67). This hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties and intrinsic antibacterial activity, reducing infection risks and protecting TENG integrity. In vitro studies revealed that such TENG patch promoted the proliferation, adhesion and migration of keratinocytes, and achieving over 96% bactericidal efficiency against both S. aureus and E. coli. Moreover, the TENG patch facilitated the infected rat skin wound to heal within 14 days by reducing inflammatory response and promoting tissue regeneration. This work provides a new solution with clinical potential for treating infected wounds by synergistic effects of electrical stimulation and novel antibacterial materials, and opens up a new insight in designing TENG devices.