A wireless battery-free intelligent system for in situ bacterial virulence detection and advanced wound therapy

Here, we present an intelligent wound patch system (iWPS) that integrates an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) sensor, a DNase-responsive DNA hydrogel preloaded with cefazolin sodium (CS), and a flexible supercapacitor (FSC) for wireless, battery-free wound management. The OECT sensor detects Staphylococcus aureus with a detection limit of 1 × 10⁴ CFU/mL and high selectivity against common interferents. Upon exposure to bacterial DNase, the DNA hydrogel degrades, triggering responsive release of CS. The FSC achieves an areal capacitance of 606.88 mF/cm², can be wirelessly charged via an NFC antenna within 50 s, and subsequently provides on-demand electrical stimulation for over 1.5 h per charge. In a rat wound infection model, the iWPS combining responsive drug release and electrical stimulation achieved a healing rate of 93.52% at day 12 post-treatment, significantly outperforming the untreated control (65.94%) and either modality alone. Collectively, the iWPS establishes a battery-free platform that uniquely integrates real-time bacterial sensing, responsive antibiotic release, and on-demand electrical stimulation for advanced wound care.