Thermoelectric Bionic Skin Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing by Restoring Bioelectric Field Microenvironment
Dan Zhao, Xinyuan Tang, Xi Chen, Huangshui Ma, Hanyu Zhong, Hao Wu, Lei Yang, Jun Tang, Qiang Sun, Shaojingya Gao
Abstract
Abstract Bioelectric fields play a critical role in skin wound repair by guiding cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and thereby accelerating wound healing. However, the biochemical microenvironment in diabetic wounds can diminish the endogenous electric fields (EEFs) and severely delay the healing process. Therefore, constructing bionic skin capable of restoring the EEF is an effective strategy for diabetic wound repair. In this study, a thermoelectric hydrogel‐based bionic skin is developed using an artemisinin (ART)‐loaded silver selenide methacrylate hydrogel (Ag 2 Se@GelMA/ART). Using the thermoelectric effect, the bionic skin can generate a bioelectric field driven by a skin‐to‐air temperature gradient, thereby offering a novel approach for restoring EEFs. In vitro studies show that Ag 2 Se@GelMA/ART bionic skin significantly promoted the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In vivo, the bionic skin accelerated diabetic wound healing and enhanced neovascularization and collagen deposition. Subsequent observation suggested that the bionic thermoelectric skin generating the external electric field inhibits the expression of prolyl hydroxylase domain‐containing protein 2 (PHD2), and upregulates the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)‐1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A, which can benefit the process of angiogenesis. Thermoelectric bionic skin represents a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound care, offering new avenues for tissue engineering.