Stage-aligned electro-ionic biobattery hydrogel for enhanced wound closure and scar reduction

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Bioelectronics

Background:

• Coordinating multi-stage wound healing requires integrating electrical stimulation (ES) with biochemical signaling.
• Existing biobatteries struggle to provide stable microcurrents and stage-aligned chemical therapy in a scalable format.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D-printed zinc-iron biobattery hydrogel (ZFBH) for advanced wound care.
• To investigate the integrated electro-chemo-bio regulation capabilities of the ZFBH for accelerated wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D-printed ZFBH with a button-cell-inspired architecture.
• Utilizing sustained microcurrents and sequential release of Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ for wound microenvironment modulation.
• Assessing ZFBH performance in a full-thickness skin wound model in rats.

Main Results:

• The ZFBH amplified endogenous electrical cues, enhancing cell proliferation, migration, and TGF-β/Smad3 expression.
• Sequential Zn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ release modulated the inflammatory and proliferative stages, promoting M2 macrophage polarization and angiogenesis.
• Accelerated wound closure (16 days) with reduced scarring compared to a silicone dressing was observed.

Conclusions:

• The ZFBH offers a scalable and integrated strategy for wound healing by combining biophysical and biochemical stimulation.
• This advanced wound care approach orchestrates stage-aligned repair through electro-chemo-bio cues.