Noninvasive, Electro-Boosted Catalytic Anti-Inflammation System for on-Demand Osteoarthritis Treatment

Osteoarthritis (OA) presents a formidable therapeutic challenge due to the relentless progression of cartilage degradation, the intricate management of both pain and inflammation, and the difficulty in halting disease advancement into later stages. Here, we present a noninvasive, self-powered electrotherapy system for OA treatment, integrating a wearable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with electro-responsive ROS-scavenging nanozymes. The TENG converts body movement into electricity, providing electroacupuncture (EA)-mimetic stimulation through microneedle electrodes. This approach minimizes tissue damage risks and liberates patients from mobility constraints. Under the TENG-generated frictional electric field, the electro-responsive CuxMn3-xO4 nanozymes demonstrate enhanced catalytic activity to effectively scavenge ROS, reprogramming the immune microenvironment toward an anti-inflammatory state, ultimately achieving superior therapeutic efficacy in rat model of OA. This synergistic approach offers a promising, patient-friendly platform with the potential to redefine OA therapeutic strategies and a broad range of inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis and encephalitis.