Powering Skin Repair: Piezoelectric Biomaterials-Driven Wound Healing.

Abstract

Over the past decade, piezoelectric biomaterials have emerged as powerful platforms for tissue repair and regeneration by enabling self-generated, minimally invasive bioelectric stimulation. Among them, skin wound healing has become a prominent area of research due to the tissue's accessibility and clinical relevance. Specifically, the microcurrents powered by piezoelectric biomaterials closely mimic the endogenous electrical cues present in healthy skin. These bioelectrical signals regulate multiple stages of wound healing, including cell migration and proliferation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix formation, and immune modulation. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of piezoelectric biomaterials for skin wound healing and examine the physiological and biochemical roles of the naturally occurring electric fields in healthy skin and injured skin. By integrating these perspectives, we highlight how piezoelectric scaffolds can power skin tissue repair by recapitulating native bioelectric signaling. We further discuss current challenges, translational opportunities, and future directions toward the development of next-generation electroactive wound dressings for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds.