Ultrasound-activated piezocatalysis based on Bi4Ti3O12 for the wireless degradation of sodium urate: a new paradigm for gout treatment.

As a widespread inflammatory disorder, gout is characterized by the excessive deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Despite substantial advances in clinical management, existing therapeutic approaches remain limited by the need for invasive procedures and delayed treatment efficacy. Here, leveraging the use of piezoelectric Bi4Ti3O12, we develop an ultrasound-driven piezocatalytic strategy for the wireless and rapid degradation of MSU. Several Bi4Ti3O12 samples are synthesized by varying the hydrothermal synthesis temperature, and the Bi4Ti3O12 sample obtained at 220 °C exhibits an optimized nanosheet morphology and markedly enhanced piezocatalytic activity. Specifically, Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets enable complete MSU degradation within 60 min and exhibit a rate constant of 77.04 × 10-3 min-1, approximately 17-fold higher than that exhibited by their other morphological counterparts. Mechanistic studies based on electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping and piezoelectric current measurements reveal that ultrasonic excitation induces a pronounced piezoelectric response, thereby facilitating the generation of highly reactive oxygen species. This work establishes an ultrasound-triggered piezocatalytic strategy for MSU degradation, highlighting the potential of Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets for noninvasive therapeutic approaches in treating gout.