Faster Wound Healing with Wearable Nanogenerators

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wound healing

Self-powered and biocompatible nanogenerators can soon boost wound healing through electrotherapy. Weak electrical changes in some biological tissues can trigger molecular interactions, involving natural wound healing.

External electric currents are in use to speed up the natural process of healing for decades. Moreover, the current research focuses on replacing the bulky electrodes used in electrotherapy before with lightweight, flexible, piezoelectric, and triboelectric nanogenerators. For example, the biodegradable triboelectric bone implant.

Self-Powered Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Scientists at the National Tsing Hua University published a paper in January that gives an overview of the current designs and their medical applications of self-powered piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators. The review gives an insight into the current challenges and the eventual commercialization of wound healing wearable nanotechnology.

Mechanical Stress Induced Electrical Currents

Piezoelectric material generates electric currents under mechanical stress. This process is like creating a spark using a lighter. The aim is to explore piezoelectric nanogenerators made using natural materials. For example, rubber, silk, crystals, bone, and synthetic material. Furthermore, non-toxic, and bendable synthetics offer the best results for accelerated healing of tissues.

A polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride (PU-PVDF) PENG accelerated wound fibrosis after researchers implanted it in rats. This is a natural process for tissue remodelling. Triboelectrification, which means placing certain different materials together and separating them also produce an electric current.

“A Wearable Patch”

A wearable patch combined with TENGs in addition to topical antibiotics can address the infection, generating electricity from breathing movements. Studies in rats showed positive results in accelerating wound healing.

Conclusion

Despite the successful outcomes of wound healing, further, development is required to address custom fitting. In addition to potential issues of corrosion, before PENGs and TENGs can be used readily for healing of wounds. Moreover, biocompatible, self-powered nanogenerators will have great potential in the market. It will be effective in wound care and healing.

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