Self-contracting, battery-free triboelectric wound healing strip with strong wet adhesion

Xiangchun Meng, Xiao Xiao, Sera Jeon, Daniel Sanghyun Cho, Kejia Zhang, Yong Hyun Kwon, Hyeon Mo, Yoojin Park, Byung-Joon Park, Dabin Kim, Fengyi Pang, SeongMin Kim, Byung-Ok Choi, Keren Dai () and Sang-Woo Kim ()
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Xiangchun Meng: Yonsei University
Xiao Xiao: Yonsei University
Sera Jeon: Yonsei University
Daniel Sanghyun Cho: Sungkyunkwan University
Kejia Zhang: Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Yong Hyun Kwon: Yonsei University
Hyeon Mo: Yonsei University
Yoojin Park: Yonsei University
Byung-Joon Park: Yonsei University
Dabin Kim: Yonsei University
Fengyi Pang: Yonsei University
SeongMin Kim: Yonsei University
Byung-Ok Choi: Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Keren Dai: Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Sang-Woo Kim: Yonsei University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Conventional wound closure techniques, such as suturing and stapling, often cause infection, delayed healing, and tissue damage, particularly in fragile or compromised tissues. A sutureless, battery-free adhesive strip (SBF strip) is developed to integrate shape-memory-assisted mechanical approximation with impedance-matched electrical stimulation for enhanced tissue repair. The device incorporates a shape memory polymer (SMP) responsive at near-body temperature and a robust wet-adhesive interface (> 200 J m−2), enabling rapid attachment and uniform closure under mild heating (40 °C). A built-in ultrasound-driven triboelectric system achieves optimal skin-impedance matching (~50 kΩ), generating electric fields up to 0.59 kV m−1 under 0.5 W cm−2 to promote cellular migration and proliferation. Finite element simulations reveal that SMP-induced contraction redistributes local mechanical strain, reducing scarring. In vivo rat studies demonstrate a 61.7% reduction in scar area compared to sutures, along with improved epithelial regeneration, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. This mechanically and electrically synergistic platform offers a scalable, battery-free wound therapy strategy, reducing dependence on external power and disposable components while enabling precision-guided healing.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62312-w

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