A Self-Powered Wound Dressing Based on “Lock-ON/OFF” Drug Release Combined Electric Stimulus Therapy for Accelerated Infected Wound Healing

To facilitate the on-demand release of hydrophilic antibiotics for accelerated repair of infected wounds, a self-powered wound dressing incorporating a “Lock-ON/OFF” electric field (EF)-driven drug release mechanism combined with electrical stimulation (ES) therapy is presented. When subjected to mechanical stress, the drug exhibits controlled, slow-release behavior, achieving a remarkable cumulative release rate of 88.57%—89 times higher than the non-mechanical stress group. Conversely, in the absence of mechanical stress, the drug remains unreleased, maintaining a 0% cumulative release rate in a fully closed state. The dressing utilizes its piezoelectric effect to establish an electric field, enabling precise control of hydrophilic drug release by regulating the electrostatic balance between the drug carrier and the drug. Moreover, the piezoelectric field acts as an exogenous electric field, remodeling the endogenous electric field of the wound, and accelerating wound closure. Combining EF-driven drug release with ES result in a 1.26 fold improvement in wound healing compared to ES alone. This study addresses precision therapy limitations in fully automated diagnosis and treatment, paving the way for advancements in remote diagnosis, wireless therapy, and on-demand precision medicine.