Unlocking Wearable Microbial Fuel Cells for Advanced Wound Infection Treatment

Abstract

Better infection control will accelerate wound healing and alleviate associated healthcare burdens. Traditional antibacterial dressings often inadequately control infections, inadvertently promoting antibacterial resistance. Our research unveils a novel, dual-functional living dressing that autonomously generates antibacterial agents and delivers electrical stimulation, harnessing the power of spore-forming Bacillus subtilis. This dressing is built on an innovative wearable microbial fuel cell (MFC) framework, using B. subtilis endospores as a powerful, dormant biocatalyst. The endospores are resilient, reactivating in nutrient-rich wound exudate to produce electricity and antibacterial compounds. The combination allows B. subtilis to outcompete pathogens for food and other resources, thus fighting infections. The strategy is enhanced by the extracellular synthesis of tin oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles on the endospore surface, boosting antibacterial action, and electrical stimulation. Moreover, the MFC framework introduces a pioneering dressing design featuring a conductive hydrogel embedded within a paper-based substrate. The arrangement ensures cell stability and sustains a healing-friendly moist environment. Our approach has proven very effective against three key pathogens in biofilms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrating exceptional capabilities in both in vitro and ex vivo models. Our innovation marks a significant leap forward in wearable MFC-based wound care, offering a potent solution for treating infected wounds.