Triboelectric Nanogenerator-Based Self-Powered Urinary Protein Detection Utilizing Triboelectric Material with Colorimetric Function

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high incidence rate, and if not detected and treated in a timely manner, it poses a risk of progressing to renal failure and even uremia. Performing home monitoring of urinary protein, which is a recognized indicator of CKD, is considered an effective means of achieving early warning for CKD. Although the existing urinary protein test strips for home self-testing are cost-effective and simple, they suffer from drawbacks such as susceptibility to contamination and lack of quantitative detection capability. Consequently, they are unable to fulfill the urgent requirement of long-term continuous monitoring. Here, we develop a sensing material that exhibits both colorimetric response for qualitative detection and triboelectric sensitivity for quantitative detection of urinary proteins. Meanwhile, in order to ensure the convenience and accuracy of testing in a home setting, a multichannel portable device that can provide stable mechanical energy input and simultaneously monitor environmental factor has been successfully developed. By utilization of the aforementioned sensing material and device, naked-eye rapid qualitative detection and self-powered quantitative detection of urinary proteins have been achieved. Therefore, this material and device show great potential in the field of home-based urinary protein detection for early warning of CKD.