Piezoelectret Textile Dressing for Biosignal Monitored Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Smart textile sensors are crucial for wearable technology and healthcare, but balancing functionality with comfort is challenging.
• Existing smart textiles often compromise on properties like breathability or flexibility.
• A need exists for advanced textile materials that enhance sensor performance while ensuring wearer comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel rotary jet-spun textile piezoelectret for advanced sensor applications.
• To investigate the piezoelectric properties and performance enhancements of the all-organic textile sensor.
• To explore the potential applications of this textile in physiological monitoring and biomedical fields.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an all-organic textile piezoelectret using rotary jet-spinning.
• Electrical poling to enhance piezoelectric output.
• Characterization of piezoelectric properties, including sensitivity, waterproofness, and breathability.
• Finite element method (FEM) analysis to understand enhanced piezo-potential.
• Testing for physiological signal monitoring (pulse, respiratory rate) and pressure mapping using deep learning.
• In vitro cell studies to assess proliferation and migration.

Main Results:

• The textile piezoelectret demonstrated a 150% increase in voltage and 200% increase in current after electrical poling.
• Achieved high sensitivity (400 mV kPa⁻¹) within a 0.6–7 kPa pressure range, excellent waterproofness (contact angle ≈134°), and high breathability (10 kg m⁻² day⁻¹).
• Successfully monitored physiological signals and performed deep learning-aided pressure mapping with 98% accuracy.
• Demonstrated accelerated L929 cell proliferation and migration, indicating potential for wound healing applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed rotary jet-spun textile piezoelectret offers a scalable and versatile solution for smart wearable sensors.
• The material exhibits superior piezoelectric performance, comfort, and biocompatibility.
• This technology holds significant promise for advanced applications in healthcare, physiological monitoring, and regenerative medicine.