Advancements of thermoelectric nanomaterials in ROS-mediated broad-spectrum antibacterial therapies for wound healing

Abstract

Thermoelectric (TE) materials, with the ability to convert heat into electrical energy, can generate micro-electrical fields at electronic interfaces with biological systems, making them applicable in electric-catalyzing as nanozymes, and modulate the infected microenvironment of skin wounds. Thereby, by harnessing temperature differences in vitro or in vivo, TE nanomaterials can provide antimicrobial reactive oxygen species (ROS) by catalyzing redox reactions, thereby accelerating wound healing by suppressing infection. However, despite their promising potential, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the antimicrobial mechanisms, biocompatibility, and practical applications of TE nanomaterials in wound healing, as this is a newly-emerged sub-area of energy-related biomedical applications. This review aims to address this gap by highlighting the emerging progress of TE materials in wound healing, clarifying their mechanism and advances, emphasizing their potential challenges for commercialization and clinical use, and proposing novel design strategies of TE nanomaterials for effective antibacterial performance.