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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
08:50
Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management
Published on: September 2, 2015
A Self-Powered Dressing Based on a Zn-Mo Galvanic Cell for Accelerated Wound Repair
Jinna Ke1, Jiaqian Sun1, Jiadi Wu1
1School of Medical Devices, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 3, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a new biodegradable, self-powered wound dressing that uses electrical stimulation (ES) and icariin (ICA) to accelerate tissue regeneration and improve wound healing outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Acute wounds present a significant clinical challenge, necessitating advanced strategies for tissue regeneration.
- Current electroactive dressings often rely on external power or non-degradable components, hindering practical application and biocompatibility.
- Electrical stimulation (ES) shows promise for wound repair by mimicking natural bioelectric cues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a self-powered, biodegradable electroactive dressing (ES-GP/ZIM) for enhanced wound management.
- To integrate a biodegradable galvanic cell and sustained drug release for improved healing.
- To evaluate the efficacy of the ES-GP/ZIM dressing in promoting skin wound repair.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a trilayer electrospun scaffold incorporating a biodegradable Zn─Mo galvanic cell and icariin (ICA).
- In vitro and in vivo assessment of the ES-GP/ZIM dressing in a full-thickness skin wound model.
- Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the combined effects of ES and ICA on wound healing.
Main Results:
- The ES-GP/ZIM dressing demonstrated continuous localized electrical stimulation and sustained ICA release.
- Significant acceleration of tissue repair was observed, with ~85% wound closure by day 7 and near-complete epithelialization by day 14.
- Combined ES and ICA effectively modulated inflammation, fibroblast migration, collagen deposition, and neovascularization.
Conclusions:
- The developed biodegradable and self-powered ES-GP/ZIM dressing offers a promising platform for active wound management.
- This approach effectively promotes regenerative tissue repair through combined electrical stimulation and therapeutic agent delivery.
- The study highlights the potential of integrated, self-powered systems in advancing wound healing therapies.
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