Abstract
Intestinal wound healing is a long-standing problem, with conventional suturing-based intestinal closure surgeries typically leading to postoperative problems. Alternative strategies or devices capable of effective wound healing have thus been sought. Here we report a self-powered electronic bandage made from soft and biodegradable materials that can accelerate wound healing in the intestine. The device uses dual electrostimulation to promote wound healing: a pulsed electrostimulation that induces electrotransfection of epithelial cells, promoting the expression of healing factors (such as epithelial growth factor); and a d.c. electrostimulation that enhances secretion of healing factors of the transfected cells. The electronic bandage exhibits high transfection efficiency and cell viability for intestinal epithelial cells in vitro, which boosts epithelial growth factor expression during the intraoperative period. Its self-powered galvanic cell from a magnesium and molybdenum microelectrode pair promotes healing factor exocytosis. In vitro and in vivo studies in mice show accelerated intestinal would healing compared to conventional suture-based treatments and an electronic bandage with single electrostimulation.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable request. Source data are provided with this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant nos. 2022YFB3205600 and 2023YFC2415900), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 32071407, 62003023), Beijing Natural Science Foundation (grant no. 7212204) (all to L.C.); and National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 32101088) and Beijing Nova Program (grant nos. Z2111000021211133, 20220484225) (all to L.W.). We acknowledge critical support and infrastructure provided for this work by the Feng Chen. Zhejiang University of Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, and we thank M. Li, M. Yang and Ms. L. Du for their assistance.
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L.C., C.Y., L.W. and Y.F. supervised the project. L.C., H.L., H.W., Yuqiong Wang and L.W. designed the E-bandage (ET) system and experiment. H.W. conducted the in vitro experiments. Yuqiong Wang discovered the role of Ca2+ influx in EVs secretion. Yuqiong Wang and Y.H. conducted the in vivo mice experiments. H.W., H.L., Yuqiong Wang, X.J., Youdi Liu, X.Y., L.W., C.Y. and L.C. prepared the manuscript. H.W., H.L., Yi Wang, T.C. and L.C. processed the data and drew the figures. H.Z. and Z.Y. assisted in fabricating the E-bandage. H.S., F.L., S.D., Z.W., A.X., Z.D., M.L. and D.Y. assisted in the in vitro experiments. S.W., J.C., T.C., K.Y., Yilin Liu and S.K. assisted in the in vivo experiments. L.L., S.K. and Y. Li assisted in simulation. All authors discussed and agreed with the final version.
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Nature Electronics thanks Quansan Yang, Zhou Li and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Supplementary Information
Supplementary Note 1, Figs. 1–31, Tables 1–6, Videos 1–3 and References.
Supplementary Video 1
The E-bandage in shaking and swing scenarios remained firmly adhered to the intestinal tissue.
Supplementary Video 2
E-bandage attached to the swelling surface of the intestine remained intact.
Supplementary Video 3
Ultrasound image after E-bandage implantation in mouse intestine.
Supplementary Data 1
Source data for Supplementary Figs. 2, 4, 5, 7–9, 11–17, 20–24, 27, 29 and 31.
Source data
Source Data Figs. 2–6
Statistical source data from Figs. 2–6 and unprocessed western blots from Figs. 2 and 3.
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Wu, H., Wang, Y., Li, H. et al. Accelerated intestinal wound healing via dual electrostimulation from a soft and biodegradable electronic bandage. Nat Electron 7, 299–312 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-024-01138-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-024-01138-8
