Engineering the electrochemistry of a therapeutic Zn battery toward biofilm microenvironment for diabetic wound healing

The bacterial-infected diabetic wound poses a heavy burden on the patient and society. The current electrical antibiotic administration avoids drug resistance associated with antibiotics, but their development is restricted by the complex wound microenvironments. Here we propose a new therapeutic Zn battery by rationally tailoring the electrochemistry for the wound microenvironment modulation. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polyelectrolyte hydrogel epidermal cathode demonstrates high adhesion strength and low interfacial impedance, enabling efficient delivery of endogenous bioelectronic cues to the wound. This wearable Zn battery combines capabilities of prolonged tissue regeneration and biofilm deconstruction while retaining 52 % discharge capacity after ten times oxygen charging. The electrochemical products and discharging microcurrent are effective in bacterial sterilization and biofilm deconstruction without impairing fibroblast growth via the synergic effects of polyelectrolyte biointerface, oxidative stress in the bacterial cell, and depletion of glutathione in the microenvironment. This battery-induced electrochemical stimulation demonstrates accelerated diabetic wound healing by guiding fibroblast migration, managing inflammation, and eliminating wound infections. This work provides a unique modality to modulate the biofilm environment through electrochemistry design for bacterial-infected chronic wound healing.