Self-powered photothermal-thermoelectric bioelectronic dressings combined with antioxidant immune regulation accelerate diabetic infected wounds healing.

Abstract

Chronic diabetic wounds are plagued by problems such as severe infection, oxidative stress, persistent inflammation. Here, we present an innovative dual-mode thermoelectric bio-dressing that synergistically addresses the multifactorial challenges of diabetic wound healing. The integrated, self-sustained platform combines photothermal sterilization, thermoelectric-driven electrical stimulation, and antioxidant-mediated immunoregulation, consisting of a 3D-printed graphene-doped polycaprolactone (PCL) photothermal generator (PTG), a Bi₂Te₃-based thermoelectric generator (TEG), and an astaxanthin (AST)-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel. Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the PTG raises local temperature to eliminate bacteria and creates a thermal gradient that activates the TEG, generating ∼190 mV electrical output-this electrical field enhances bacterial membrane disruption and antimicrobial efficacy. After NIR cessation, the natural skin-environment temperature difference sustains ∼106 mV stable voltage, providing prolonged low-level electrical stimulation to promote fibroblast proliferation, endothelial migration, and angiogenesis. Meanwhile, the thermoresponsive hydrogel releases AST (a potent antioxidant) to scavenge ROS and polarize macrophages toward the pro-regenerative M2 phenotype, alleviating chronic inflammation. In vivo experiments and single-cell RNA sequencing confirm the dressing effectively eradicates Staphylococcus aureus infection, accelerates re-epithelialization, stimulates vascularization, and modulates immune responses for tissue repair. Unlike previous single-modality or externally powered devices, this work innovatively integrates thermoelectric energy harvesting, photothermal therapy, and phytochemical-based immunoregulation into a scalable, autonomous, and environment-adaptive solution.