Self-powered biodegradable and antibacterial MoS2-based triboelectric nanogenerators for the acceleration of wound healing in diabetes

Recently, there has been significant interests in the use of wearable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to accelerate wound healing. In this study, a single-electrode TENG skin patch was developed using MoS2 and a biocompatible gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. MoS2 demonstrated electrical conductivity and excellent photothermal conversion properties, while GelMA exhibited good biocompatibility. The TENG device could harvest biophysical energy, create an electric field around the damaged tissues, and leverage the near-infrared photothermal effect to enhance wound healing. Additionally, the TENG served as a real-time sensor to monitor physiological signals. The TENG prototype achieved a peak-to-peak voltage output of 48.80 V and current output of 0.57 μA. In vitro experiments utilizing mouse fibroblasts concluded that the TENG, with the combined effects of photothermal heating and real-time electrical stimulation, accelerated cell migration. The results of animal studies further confirmed that the TENG effectively promoted collagen deposition and angiogenesis, ultimately enhancing tissue regeneration and wound healing. Notably, this study is the first report of a MoS2-based TENG for accelerating wound healing. It is expected that this work will not only present a new avenue for the use of self-powered wearable electronics in wound treatment but also highlight their potential as advanced sensing systems.