Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Development of a Benchtop Model for Evaluating the Compatibility of Wound Dressing Materials with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Systems
Published on: May 2, 2025
Modifiable PEDOT:PSS-based flexible diagnostic and therapeutic dressings for personalized wound management
Leyan Wang1,2, Guang Yao3,4,5, Siyuan Cai6,7
1School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, Sichuan, China.
Abstract:
Intelligent wound management necessitates flexible and personalized wound dressings capable of real-time physiological monitoring and targeted therapeutic interventions. A significant challenge lies in integrating diverse sensing and stimulation components into an all-in-one dressing while maintaining material compatibility and structural interoperability. Here, we present a sophisticated and scalable flexible diagnostic and therapeutic dressing (FDTD) based on modifiable poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). By tuning the electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS film (1 S/cm to 6.4 kS/cm) while maintaining a low Young's modulus, we enable the versatile integration of temperature, impedance, and pH sensors alongside electrical and optical stimulators into a single, flexible dressing. Biosensing assays demonstrate high sensitivity (1 Ω/°C, -2 mV/10% volumetric water content, and -30 mV/pH), excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99), and robust reproducibility. In vivo therapeutic efficacy, rigorously assessed using circular and square wound models in Sprague-Dawley rats, reveals that FDTD-mediated electro-optical synergistic therapy achieves greater than 98% wound closure within 8 days, significantly outperforming the control group (<65%) and other reported physical therapies (≤90%). Mechanistically, accelerated regeneration is attributed to improved cellular proliferation, collagen organization, and neovascularization facilitated by electro-optical synergistic treatment. Furthermore, the integration of wireless power transfer and Bluetooth modules enables real-time data acquisition and remote therapeutic modulation, positioning FDTD as a promising platform for transformative wound management.

