A wearable self-powered microneedle system based on conductive drugs for infected wound healing: A new electrical stimulation delivery strategy

Electrical stimulation from wearable triboelectric nanogenerators is promising for wound treatment, but has limitations in healing infected wounds due to its restricted bactericidal efficacy. While combining triboelectric nanogenerators with antibacterial drugs is an effective approach, it faces challenges such as drug-loading content, patient compliance, and biosafety. Here, a wearable, self-powered microneedle system based on conductive drugs is developed for infected wounds through antimicrobial treatment and electrically stimulated tissue repair, in which the electrical stimulation is conducted by the designed drugs. The drug is synthesized through covalent bonding between levofloxacin and carbon quantum dots, eliminating bacteria effectively and endowing the microneedle patch with excellent conductivity. The electrical stimulation from a triboelectric nanogenerator delivered to the wound tissue promotes cell migration, cell proliferation, and collagen deposition. Infected-wound mice models demonstrate that the synergistic action of drugs and electrical stimulation in this system is more effective in promoting the healing of wounds than the sole application of either electrical stimulation or drugs. This study presents an innovative strategy for the treatment of infected wounds and paves the way for new approaches in wearable electronic devices for wound therapy.