Shear Stress-Triggered Thrombolysis by Yolk–Shell Nanoparticles with Piezoelectric-Tribovoltaic Dynamic Schottky Junctions

Abstract

Triboelectric nanogenerators convert the mechanical energy of human body motions into sustained electric powers, but the triboelectric effect is not yet integrated with pathological microenvironments. Herein, endogenous shear stress-responsive platforms are designed for tribocatalytic thrombolysis through sequential deposition of SiO₂ and Au layer onto tetragonal barium titanate (tBT) nanoparticles (NPs), followed by SiO₂ layer etching and surface grafting of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) to obtain yolk–shell-structured tBT@Au-RGD NPs. High-frequency frictions and collisions between tBT yolks and Au shells continuously stimulate electron–hole pairs and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generations, and the dynamic Schottky junctions provide electron channels from tBT to Au to inhibit electron–hole recombinations. The piezopotential of tBT further promotes electron–hole separations and acts synergistically with tribovoltaic ROS generation for degrading fibrin networks of thrombi. In a loop-closed flow system demonstrates shear stress-adaptable ROS generations under embolization degrees from 20% to 80%. In a carotid thrombosis model RGD grafts increase NP accumulations four folds at the thrombus site after 24 h of intravenous administration, and the stenosis degree is reduced to 3.99% with complete blood vessel recanalization and negligible bleeding risk and systemic toxicity. This study is the first attempt to demonstrate endogenous stimuli-induced tribovoltaic and piezoelectric effects for tribocatalytic disease treatment.