Self-Manipulating Sodium Ion Gradient-Based Endogenic Electrical Stimulation Dressing for Wound Repair.

Abstract

Endogenous electric field (EF) originating from differences in ionic gradients plays a decisive role in the wound healing process. Based on this understanding, a self-manipulating sodium ion gradient-based endogenic electrical stimulation dressing (smig-EESD) is developed to achieve passive, non-invasive, endogenic electrical stimulation of wounds, which avoids the side effects of electrode occupancy, electrochemical reactions, and thermal effects present in traditional exogenous electrical stimulation. smig-EESD reduced the potential at the center of the wound by specifically absorbing Na+ in the exudate, ultimately strengthening the wound endogenous EF. Importantly, smig-EESD converted the active transport dependent on Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase into passive diffusion by adsorbing extracellular matrix Na+, and the saved ATP consumption promoted tissue repair process. smig-EESD regulated innate and adaptive immune responses by upregulating the secretion of multiple cytokines, thereby suppressing injury-associated inflammatory responses and reducing scar formation. smig-EESD reveals an endogenic electrical stimulation strategy that is independent of electrodes and circuits, and provides new insights into the future development of electronic medicine.