Bioinspired self-powered nanostructures for efficient antibacterial activities

Bioinspired nanostructures exhibit intrinsic mechano-bactericidal performance without the risk of inducing antimicrobial resistance, attracting considerable research interest. However, while these nanostructures are particularly effective at killing Gram-negative bacteria, they struggle to completely eradicate Gram-positive bacteria with highly rigid cell walls. Herein, bioinspired self-powered nanostructures with triboelectric stimulation (TES)-enhanced mechano-bactericidal activity were developed. Assisted by low-voltage TES (8 V), the antibacterial efficiency of the nanostructures increased from 83.14 % to 99.96 % against E. coli and from 51.77 % to 99.47 % against stubborn S. aureus. This TES-enhanced antibacterial activity is versatile and applicable to various nanostructured substrates, including metals, degradable and common polymers, all achieving over 99 % elimination of S. aureus. The multi-physical antibacterial strategy effectively inhibited S. aureus-infected wounds and promoted rapid wound healing by day 9. Due to the low-voltage TES derived from a triboelectric nanogenerator, it offers electrical safety, wearable portability, and self-sustainability. This work provides a new pathway for improving the efficiency of traditional nanostructures and spurs the design of biocide-independent, high-performance antibacterial materials.