Self-Manipulating Sodium Ion Gradient-Based Endogenic Electrical Stimulation Dressing for Wound Repair

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Endogenous electric fields (EFs) are crucial for wound healing, driven by ionic gradients.
• Traditional exogenous electrical stimulation methods have limitations like side effects and electrode issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a self-manipulating sodium ion gradient-based endogenic electrical stimulation dressing (smig-EESD).
• To achieve passive, non-invasive electrical stimulation for enhanced wound repair.

Main Methods:

• Designed smig-EESD to absorb Na+ from wound exudate, strengthening endogenous EFs.
• Converted Na+/K+-ATPase dependent active transport to passive diffusion by adsorbing extracellular Na+.
• Investigated the dressing's impact on immune responses and cytokine secretion.

Main Results:

• smig-EESD successfully reduced wound center potential and strengthened endogenous EFs.
• Reduced ATP consumption by altering ion transport, promoting tissue repair.
• Modulated innate and adaptive immune responses, suppressing inflammation and reducing scar formation.

Conclusions:

• smig-EESD offers an electrode- and circuit-independent endogenic electrical stimulation strategy.
• This approach provides a new paradigm for electronic medicine in wound care.
• The developed dressing effectively promotes wound healing and minimizes scarring.