An Electrostatic-Induction-Enabled Anti-Touching Hydrogel Dressing for Chronic Wound Care

Chronic wounds are inherently vulnerable to external mechanical contact owing to their impaired physiological states. Accidental touching may lead to secondary damage to delicate wound tissues, including deterioration of tissue and inflammation, thereby prolonging the healing process. In addition, patients encounter nociceptive sensations, indicative of physical discomfort and potential distress. However, the traditional dressings for chronic wounds fail to convey adequate perceptual information to prevent mechanical trauma. An electrostatic-induction-enabled anti-touching hydrogel dressing (EAHD) is proposed, which promotes wound healing and reduces touching-induced injuries. The EAHD combines a proximity sensor and a pro-healing hydrogel. The proximity sensor can detect approaching objects, enabling remote perception. More importantly, EAHD and a wireless alarm system are integrated to warn against the detected potential hazards such as unintentional touching. Meanwhile, the EAHD significantly accelerates wound healing in preclinical diabetic mice, ≈38% faster than that of the control group. This study proposes a novel strategy for multifunctional wound dressing that promotes wound healing and prevents accidental touching-induced secondary damage to the wound.