Endogenous Electric Fields: A Natural Driver for Infrared-Activated Transparent Electronic Skin in Wound Healing
Futing Wang, Su-Ping Deng, Linxuan Liu, Ningbo Zhang, Changxiao Song, Yutang Zhou, Xiaofei Fu, Yuting Jiang, Man Liu, Yueqiang Hu, Hongfen Yang, Dan Yang, Wenbin Zhong, Zhuo Chen, Ren Cai, Weihong Tan
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide A flexible, self-powered, and transparent electronic skin (e-skin) is constructed by combining endogenous electric field modulation and infrared thermal stimulation to accelerate wound healing. The e-skin comprises (1) a transparent conductive layer for real-time wound monitoring, fabricated by thermal deposition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-functionalized carbon nanotubes (C-MWCNTs) with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); (2) a photothermal interface using Pd@Au nanoframes for infrared therapy; and (3) self-powered electric fields mimicking bioelectric signals. Antibacterial assays of the e-skin showed >160% bacterial suppression at the peak output of 0.25–0.59 V and 90–140% suppression at the baseline output of 0.05–0.12 V. In vitro tests demonstrated 90% E. coli elimination within 10 min. In vivo studies on rabbits revealed a 50% reduction in healing time (7 days) via synergistic photothermal-electrical therapy. This e-skin offers a promising approach to advanced wound care.