Sensorable zwitterionic antibacterial hydrogel for wound electrostimulation therapy

Abstract

Wound healing process has always been a focal point of concern, with a plethora of hydrogel dressings available; however, their therapeutic efficacy remains a hindrance to wound closure. This article reports on a dual-network conductive system, PEDOT:PSS-co-PSBMA/XLG (PPSX) hydrogel dressing, Constructed using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) in combination with zwitterionic N, N-dimethyl-N-(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)-N- (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine (SBMA) and nanoclay-synthesized lithium magnesium silicate (XLG). The hydrogel powder produced from it can absorb interfacial water within 30 s via physical interactions to spontaneously form hydrogels of arbitrary shapes. With a conductivity of 1.8 s/m, it can be utilized for developing flexible sensing bioelectronic devices to monitor human activities (facial expressions, blinking, swallowing, speaking, joint movements), as well as constructing electrodes for monitoring muscle movements and motorial intensity. More importantly, PPSX hydrogel effectively inhibits bacterial growth and promotes cell proliferation, thus facilitating wound healing and presenting extensive application prospects in the medical field.