Drug-Free "Triboelectric Immunotherapy" Activating Immunity for Osteomyelitis Treatment and Recurrence Prevention

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Immunology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Osteomyelitis treatment faces challenges due to immunosuppressive microenvironments, low efficacy, and high recurrence rates.
• Current therapies are limited by drug delivery and focus on anti-inflammatory effects, neglecting pro-inflammatory roles in infection clearance.
• There is a need for novel strategies to effectively eliminate bacteria and prevent osteomyelitis relapse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC-TENG) for triboelectric immunotherapy.
• To investigate the antibacterial effects and immune-modulating properties of DC-TENG in osteomyelitis.
• To evaluate the potential for accelerating healing and preventing recurrence of osteomyelitis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and application of a direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC-TENG) for electrical stimulation.
• In vitro assessment of macrophage polarization (M1) and direct antibacterial effects.
• In vivo validation using rat cranial and mouse tibial osteomyelitis models, including immunosurveillance models.

Main Results:

• Triboelectric immunotherapy effectively activated pro-inflammatory (M1) macrophages in vitro.
• DC-TENG demonstrated direct antibacterial effects and promoted osteogenic activity in vivo.
• The treatment successfully modulated immune cell polarization and differentiation, establishing immunological memory to prevent infection recurrence.

Conclusions:

• Triboelectric immunotherapy offers a drug-free, efficient, and long-acting strategy for osteomyelitis treatment.
• This approach enhances the immune microenvironment, accelerates healing, and prevents relapse.
• The developed wearable DC-TENG system presents a promising multifunctional platform for osteomyelitis management.