Wound treatment film based on triboelectric generator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wound treatment film based on a triboelectric generator and, more particularly, to a wound treatment film or band using a shape memory polymer and combined with a triboelectric generator. The present invention not only can implement an effect similar to wound closure through unique materials and properties without the need for sutures, but also can promote wound healing by providing electrical stimulation. Unlike existing wound closure replacement technologies, which have shown limitations by focusing only on physical wound closure, the present invention simultaneously provides two therapeutic effects, namely physical wound closure and electrical treatment.

Description

triboelectric generator-based wound healing film

[0001] The present invention relates to a wound healing film based on a triboelectric generator, and specifically to a wound healing film or band combined with a triboelectric generator utilizing a shape memory polymer.

[0002] Wounds occurring in emergencies require suturing to prevent infection and promote rapid healing. However, conventional suturing methods are performed in the operating room, which causes physical damage to surrounding tissues and poses a problem of additional damage resulting from the sutures. Such physical damage delays wound healing or increases the risk of inflammation. Therefore, technologies that achieve similar effects to suturing without the need for sutures are being actively researched.

[0003] Currently developed sutureless technologies primarily focus on physically fixing wounds, but they lack the capability to accelerate wound healing. They are limited to merely preventing the wound from opening. In emergency situations, functions that aid in rapid wound regeneration must be employed in parallel with simple physical fixation. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of new treatment methods that combine technologies capable of accelerating wound healing with fixation functions that are physically similar to sutures. This will contribute to providing better outcomes in emergency wound care, reducing infection and complications, and facilitating faster wound healing.

[0004] The present invention presents an innovative technology capable of simultaneously performing mechanical suturing and electrical treatment for emergency wounds through shape-memory polymer and triboelectric-based wound suturing and treatment technology.

[0005] According to the present invention, a shape-memory polymer is activated at a temperature similar to body temperature to mechanically seal a wound site, while simultaneously providing electrical stimulation through a triboelectric element to promote wound healing. This enables rapid and effective wound sealing and treatment in emergency situations and introduces a new approach that accelerates the speed of wound regeneration.

[0006] A wound treatment film based on a triboelectric generator according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a bio-adhesive layer in the form of a film that includes an opening and is attached to the body; a wound closure layer disposed on the bio-adhesive layer and positioned over the opening of the bio-adhesive layer to cover the wound; and a triboelectric generator disposed on the bio-adhesive layer that generates triboelectricity by the movement of the human body or the application of ultrasound, wherein electrodes are disposed at both ends of the wound closure layer and the electrodes are connected to the triboelectric generator, and electrical stimulation is applied to the wound area using the power generated by the triboelectric generator.

[0007] The wound closure layer described above includes a shape memory polymer. The shape memory polymer restores its shape in response to temperature.

[0008] The electrode may be positioned on the upper or lower side of the shape memory polymer.

[0009] Two electrodes may be placed at both ends of the shape memory polymer, one electrode is connected to the triboelectric generator, and the other electrode is grounded to the ground.

[0010] The shape of the above electrode is serrated, and the electrodes placed at both ends form a serrated shape in directions facing each other.

[0011] The triboelectric generator and the wound closure layer may be arranged side by side on the bio-adhesive layer so as not to overlap each other.

[0012] The shape memory polymer is used in a stretched state at room temperature. As the temperature is increased, the shape memory polymer returns to its original shape, and a wound sealing effect occurs due to shrinkage.

[0013] A wound healing band based on a triboelectric generator according to an additional embodiment of the present invention comprises: a bio-adhesive layer in the form of a film that includes an opening and is attached to the body; a wound closure layer disposed on the bio-adhesive layer and positioned over the opening of the bio-adhesive layer to cover the wound, comprising a shape-memory polymer that restores its shape in response to temperature; and a triboelectric generator disposed on the bio-adhesive layer that generates triboelectricity by the movement of the human body or the application of ultrasound, wherein the shape-memory polymer is used in a stretched state at room temperature and, by raising the temperature, the shape-memory polymer returns to its original shape, thereby generating a wound sealing effect through contraction, and electrodes are disposed at both ends of the closure layer and are connected to the triboelectric generator, and electrical stimulation is applied to the wound area using the power generated by the triboelectric generator.

[0014] The shape of the above electrode is serrated, and the electrodes placed at both ends form a serrated shape in directions facing each other.

[0015] The electrode may be positioned on the upper or lower side of the shape memory polymer.

[0016] The present invention presents a method for physically closing a wound without sutures while simultaneously accelerating wound healing through electrical treatment. To this end, a material called a shape-memory polymer is used to perform physical suturing, and an electrical treatment effect is provided by applying a triboelectric effect to the wound site. The shape-memory polymer used in the present invention exhibits a physical suturing effect that automatically closes the wound site by generating shape memory at 39°C, which is similar to human body temperature. Through this, the wound site is physically stabilized, and natural healing is facilitated.

[0017] Furthermore, by incorporating a triboelectric element driven by ultrasound, wound regeneration can be promoted through electrical stimulation both inside and outside the body. This technology is an advanced wound treatment method that accelerates the speed of wound healing beyond conventional simple physical suturing by simultaneously providing physical fixation and electrical stimulation for wound regeneration. This invention, in the form of a wound regeneration band, is expected to have a significant impact in the fields of medicine and new materials.

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a structural diagram of a wound healing film based on a triboelectric generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 illustrates two examples of triboelectric power generation methods.

[0020] Figure 3 illustrates the appearance of a shape memory polymer.

[0021] Figure 4 illustrates the operating principle of a shape memory polymer-based triboelectric generator.

[0022] Figure 5 illustrates the wound healing effect of a shape memory polymer-based triboelectric device.

[0023] Various embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, and throughout the drawings, similar reference numerals are used to denote similar elements. For illustrative purposes, various descriptions are provided in this specification to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it is evident that these embodiments can be practiced without such specific descriptions. In other examples, known structures and devices are presented in the form of block diagrams to facilitate the description of the embodiments.

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. As the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and may take various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed forms, and it should be understood that the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Similar reference numerals have been used for similar components in the description of each drawing.

[0025] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to indicate the presence of the features, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0026] In emergency wound treatment, suturing plays a crucial role in preventing infection and promoting wound healing; however, there is a possibility of physical damage to surrounding tissues during the suturing process. To address this issue, various technologies are being researched to achieve the same effect without physical suturing. However, most of these technologies have limitations in that they focus merely on physical fixation effects similar to suturing without sufficiently considering the functional aspects of accelerating wound regeneration. This invention presents a method to physically close a wound without suturing while simultaneously accelerating wound healing through electrical therapy. To this end, physical suturing is performed using a material called a shape-memory polymer, and an electrical therapeutic effect is provided by applying a triboelectric effect to the wound site.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a structural diagram of a wound healing film based on a triboelectric generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a film or band for wound treatment based on a triboelectric generator according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a bio-adhesive layer; a wound closure layer; and an electrical stimulation layer.

[0029] The bio-adhesive layer is a film-type adhesive layer that is attached to the body, including an opening, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The bio-adhesive layer may utilize a material capable of strongly adhering to biological tissues, and it is particularly desirable to use a material capable of strongly adhering to the skin or internal organs even in wet or humid environments. Available materials include, for example, chitosan, gelatin, cellulose, etc.

[0030] The wound closure layer is placed on the bio-adhesive layer; in this case, it is positioned over the opening of the bio-adhesive layer to cover the wound. In other words, the opening of the bio-adhesive layer is where the wound site is placed, and the wound closure layer is positioned on this wound site. The wound closure layer is attached to and fixed to the bio-adhesive layer.

[0031] The wound closure layer includes a shape memory polymer. A shape memory polymer is a polymer that has the property of maintaining its original shape under specific conditions, and exhibits the characteristic of returning to its original state when specific conditions are satisfied after being deformed. In the present invention, the property of the shape memory polymer to return to its original shape can be utilized to replace the role of suturing a wound.

[0032] The shape memory polymer used in the present invention restores its shape in response to temperature. The shape memory polymer is used in a stretched state at room temperature, and as the temperature is raised, the shape memory polymer returns to its original shape, causing a wound sealing effect due to shrinkage. Materials that can be used as shape memory polymers that restore their shape in response to temperature include polyurethane, polyethylene, and polylactic acid.

[0033] Electrodes are placed at both ends of the wound closure layer, and the electrodes are connected to a triboelectric generator. Electric stimulation is applied to the wound area using power generated by the triboelectric generator to promote the wound healing effect.

[0034] These electrodes can be placed on the top or bottom of the shape memory polymer.

[0035] Two electrodes may be placed at both ends of the shape memory polymer, one electrode may be connected to the triboelectric generator, and the other electrode may be grounded.

[0036] In addition, the shape of the electrode is a sawtooth shape as shown in Fig. 1 of the present invention, and in this case, the electrodes placed at both ends form a sawtooth shape in directions facing each other.

[0037] In summary, among the two opposing toothed electrodes, only one is connected to the triboelectric generator, while the other acts as a ground electrode (reference electrode), allowing an electric field to be formed in the wound between the two electrodes. In this case, a toothed shape is preferable because it can strengthen the electric field.

[0038] The triboelectric generator is placed on the bio-adhesive layer and generates triboelectricity by the movement of the human body or the application of ultrasound.

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates two examples of triboelectric power generation methods. As shown in Figure 2, triboelectricity can be generated through contact and non-contact caused by the movement of the body, and it is also possible to generate triboelectricity by applying ultrasound from the outside to create contact and non-contact. Various triboelectric generating elements can be used in the triboelectric generating unit; generally, a push-type triboelectric generating element can be used, but depending on the case, a rotating-type or sliding-type element may also be used. Generally, the triboelectric generating element may include a lower electrode; a lower triboelectric material layer; an upper triboelectric material layer; and an upper electrode. In this case, the lower triboelectric material layer and the upper triboelectric material layer are parts that generate triboelectric and electrostatic energy by repeatedly making contact and non-contact with each other according to the movement of the human body. There are no special restrictions on these triboelectric material layers, but preferably, since using materials with a large difference in charge between the two triboelectric material layers in the triboelectric series can generate greater power, it is desirable to use materials with a large difference in charge between them. Meanwhile, the lower electrode and the upper electrode can be any material available for use as an electrode, and there are no specific restrictions on the electrode material.

[0040] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 1, the triboelectric generator and the wound closure layer are arranged side by side on the bio-adhesive layer so as not to overlap each other.

[0041] A wound healing band based on a triboelectric generator according to one embodiment of the present invention also has a configuration similar to the wound healing film based on a triboelectric generator described above. Below, the contents of the present invention will be further explained along with specific embodiments.

[0042] (Example 1)

[0043] Figure 3 illustrates the appearance of a shape memory polymer. First, a shape memory polymer prepared to a length of 3.2 cm is cooled to stretch it to 4.4 cm. Subsequently, when the temperature is raised to a low heat of 39°C, the shape memory polymer returns to its shape prior to cooling, exhibiting the property of returning to a length of 3.3 cm. The validity of this property was confirmed through analysis of the actual material's properties, and calculations regarding the change in shape according to temperature were also verified. In this case, the property of the shape memory polymer returning to its original shape can be utilized as a driving force for suturing emergency wounds.

[0044] Using this, a wound healing film (band) was fabricated using a shape memory polymer-based triboelectric device as shown in Fig. 1. By utilizing the characteristic of the shape memory polymer to shrink back to its original shape at a low temperature of 39°C, it was possible to demonstrate characteristics similar to the physical suturing of a wound through this shrinkage. Finally, wound healing could be accelerated by applying electrical stimulation to the wound through a triboelectric generator to enable electrical stimulation.

[0045] To synthesize Bio-SMP (Shape Memory Polymer), PCL diol and isosorbide were first placed in a 100 mL round-bottom flask and stirred for 1 hour at 60°C under a nitrogen (N₂) atmosphere. After this process, hexamethylene diisocyanate was added, and a one-shot bulk polymerization reaction was carried out overnight at 120°C. The synthesized polyurethane was dissolved in dimethyl formamide and precipitated in isopropyl alcohol to purify it using a non-solvent. After washing several times, it was vacuum dried at 65°C for 24 hours to obtain high-purity SMP. Subsequently, a transparent Bio-SMP film with a thickness of 40 μm was fabricated using a glass substrate.

[0046] For the synthesis of the bio-adhesive, a precursor solution was prepared by dissolving 3.5 g of acrylic acid, 0.7 g of PVA, 0.1 g of PAAc-NHS ester, 0.005 g of GelMA, and 0.02 g of α-ketoglutaric acid in distilled water. This solution was poured into a custom PTFE mold with a thickness of 200 μm and cured for 30 minutes under 365 nm, 12 W UV light. Finally, the cured adhesive was purified by placing it in a vacuum oven at 40°C for 48 hours to remove volatile solvents.

[0047] The device fabrication process is as follows:

[0048] 1) Mo triboelectric electrodes and serrated electrodes were prepared by laser cutting Mo foil.

[0049] 2) The Bio-SMP film was cut into different shapes to serve as a triboelectric layer, a substrate for the TENG (Triboelectric Nanogenerator) portion, and a pre-stretched electrode substrate.

[0050] 3) The Mo electrode was heated and fixed to the Bio-SMP substrate, and the bottom of the Bio-SMP was treated with O₂ plasma and then bonded to the Bio-adhesive layer by thermal bonding.

[0051] Bio-SMP is a PCL-based polyurethane designed as a material with a low melting point and high adhesion properties that bonds well to metals and polymers.

[0052]

[0053] (Example 2)

[0054] In Example 2, the technical feasibility and effectiveness of the present invention were demonstrated through animal experiments. To confirm the technical feasibility of the present invention, animal experiments were conducted to evaluate the wound closure and tissue regeneration effects.

[0055] Figure 4 illustrates the operating principle of a shape-memory polymer-based triboelectric device. First, the shape-memory polymer-based triboelectric device was attached to the skin using a bio-adhesive layer. Subsequently, infrared irradiation caused the shape-memory polymer to contract back to its original shape, thereby achieving an effect similar to physically suturing a wound. In the final step, ultrasound was applied to cause the triboelectric device to generate an electrical output, thereby performing a comprehensive verification of wound healing.

[0056] Figure 5 illustrates the wound healing effect of a shape memory polymer-based triboelectric device. First, the SMP is stretched at room temperature and attached to the wound. Then, the temperature is raised (approximately 39°C) using infrared irradiation or warm water. As the SMP returns to its original shape and contracts, it provides an effect similar to a suture. The experiment was conducted with a total of four groups. The control groups included a control group with no treatment and a suture group using suture thread. There was also an SMP group that applied only physical suturing with a shape memory polymer, and an SMP+TENG group that added electrical stimulation via a triboelectric device. As a result of the experiment, the SMP+TENG group showed a superior wound healing effect compared to the suture group, proving that the shape memory polymer-based triboelectric device plays a significant role in wound recovery. Furthermore, the SMP+TENG group exhibited a more superior healing effect than the SMP group, experimentally confirming that electrical stimulation can accelerate wound regeneration.

[0057] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bio-adhesive layer in the form of a film that includes an opening and is attached to the body; A wound closure layer disposed on the bio-adhesive layer and positioned over the opening of the bio-adhesive layer to cover the wound; and It includes a triboelectric generator disposed on the above-mentioned bio-adhesive layer that generates triboelectricity by the movement of the human body or the application of ultrasound, and Electrodes are disposed at both ends of the wound closure layer, and the electrodes are connected to a triboelectric generator, and electrical stimulation is applied to the wound site using power generated by the triboelectric generator. triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above wound closure layer comprises a shape memory polymer, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above shape memory polymer restores its shape in response to temperature, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

4. In Paragraph 1, The electrode is positioned on the upper or lower part of the shape memory polymer, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

5. In Paragraph 4, Two electrodes may be disposed at both ends of the shape memory polymer, and One electrode is connected to the triboelectric generator and the other electrode is grounded to the ground, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

6. In Paragraph 1, The shape of the above electrode is serrated, and The electrodes placed at both ends form a sawtooth shape in directions facing each other, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

7. In Paragraph 1, The triboelectric generator and the wound closure layer are arranged side by side on the bio-adhesive layer so as not to overlap each other. triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

8. In Paragraph 2, The above shape memory polymer is used in a stretched state at room temperature, triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

9. In Paragraph 8, As the temperature is increased, the shape memory polymer returns to its original form, and a wound sealing effect occurs due to shrinkage. triboelectric generator-based wound healing film.

10. A bio-adhesive layer in the form of a film that includes an opening and is attached to the body; A wound closure layer disposed on the bio-adhesive layer and positioned over an opening of the bio-adhesive layer to cover a wound, comprising a shape-memory polymer that restores its shape in response to temperature; and It includes a triboelectric generator disposed on the above-mentioned bio-adhesive layer that generates triboelectricity by the movement of the human body or the application of ultrasound, and The above shape memory polymer is used in a stretched state at room temperature, and as the temperature is increased, the shape memory polymer returns to its original shape, causing a wound sealing effect due to shrinkage, and Electrodes are disposed at both ends of the closure layer, and the electrodes are connected to a triboelectric generator, and electrical stimulation is applied to the wound site using power generated by the triboelectric generator. Triboelectric generator-based wound healing bandage.

11. In Paragraph 10, The shape of the above electrode is serrated, and The electrodes placed at both ends form a sawtooth shape in directions facing each other, Triboelectric generator-based wound healing bandage.

12. In Paragraph 10, The electrode is positioned on the upper or lower part of the shape memory polymer, Triboelectric generator-based wound healing bandage.

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