The DC triboelectric nanogenerator outputs stable pulsed DC. Under optimized conditions, it is biocompatible and promotes bone formation, while inhibiting the growth and biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus in a parameter-dependent manner. Chronic osteomyelitis bone marrow sequencing shows bone immune imbalance, weakened JAK2-STAT3, and increased SOCS3. Electrical stimulation activates macrophage JAK2-STAT3, reduces SOCS3, promotes pro-inflammatory/antibacterial phenotypes, ROS, and antibacterial genes; Stattic and STAT3 knockdown weaken these effects. In the short term, it induces STAT3-dependent antibacterial immune activation, enhances T cell responses, reduces bacterial load, and doesn’t cause lasting inflammation. Long-term effects show weakened inflammation and chemotactic signals, decreased JAK2-STAT3 activity, inflammation resolves, collagen remodels, bone formation markers improve, and bone structure is better, with no obvious abnormalities in major organs.

Thoughts and Implications

This study suggests that chronic osteomyelitis bone marrow isn’t just in a high-inflammatory state, but is more like having inefficient antibacterial immunity or an immunosuppressive condition. The sequential activation of JAK2-STAT3 might first help restore antibacterial capacity, and then, as the bacterial load decreases, shift toward inflammation resolution and bone repair. Fixed electrical stimulation conditions can trigger different bone immune responses over time, offering ideas for drug-free regulation. Going forward, we could expand the sample size, extend follow-up, add more time points, use cell sorting or single-cell sequencing to increase cell type resolution, map local electric field and current distribution, and test robustness in large animal models, while also optimizing device engineering and stimulation parameters.

Original Source:

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Pub Date: 2026-09-25

DOI: 10.1186/s12951-026-05112-8

Yunchang Zhao, Haimei Li, Junwei Su, Yize Wu, Zhiwei Wang, Jianghan Xia, Xinyi Tan, Zheng Wang, Hao Zhang, Yuchen Song, Ying Yuan, Peng Jiang, Aixi Yu

We specialize in custom nano-medical functional materials. We conduct targeted development to tailor structure, particle size and surface modification for your experiments. Full characterization, iterative optimization and technical support are available for targeted delivery, bioimaging and nanomedicine studies. Send your evaluation plans to us. Engineer Zhang: 17715390137 Engineer Chen: 18914047343