Biodegradable piezoelectric suture for real-time biomechanical sensing and therapeutic intervention

Sutures are a cornerstone of surgical procedures, yet conventional designs remain bioinert and mechanically rigid, failing to adapt to dynamic wound microenvironments and lacking the capability to sense mechanical forces. To overcome these limitations, we present a biodegradable piezoelectric suture (e-suture) that enables real-time monitoring of mechanical stress at the wound site while promoting tissue regeneration. A core-sheath architecture of the e-suture, combining a piezoelectric nanofibrous sheath with a flexible hydrogel electrode, ensures mechanical compliance with soft tissues and enables wireless real-time monitoring of wound biomechanics. Incorporation of quercetin (Que) into poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers stabilizes the β-phase conformation of PLLA and enhances piezoelectric output through hydrogen-bonding interactions. In addition to electromechanical properties, Que confers intrinsic anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, actively suppressing excessive M1 macrophage polarization and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion during wound healing. In rodent models of skin and muscle injury, the e-suture efficiently combined real-time mechanosensing, inflammation modulation, tissue regeneration, neovascularization, and collagen deposition. This platform bridges the gap between bioelectronics and wound therapeutics, offering a new paradigm for wound management.