Jingwen Yang: Development of a conducting polymer-based smart wound-healing device

<p dir="ltr">In recent years, smart, integrated conductive polymers (CPs)-based wound healing devices have gained particular interest, combining the benefits of multifunctional dressings, precisely controlled drug release, biosensing, stimulation, and real-time monitoring of wound status. Our group developed a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), (PEDOT)-based platform that utilizes EDOT-thioacetate (EDOT-SAc), to provide a thiol functionality that is capable of electrochemical and reversible conjugation of various (bio)molecules[1]. Here, we extend the capabilities of the platform to the attachment-release of wound-healing drugs and investigate its application to advanced wound regeneration. The electrospun, porous CPs-deposited substrates (P(EDOT-co-EDOT-SAc)) exhibit high conductivity to enable electrical stimulation (ES), while simultaneously providing precise, electrochemically regulated drug release. in vitro studies with NIH 3T3 fibroblasts revealed a synergistic enhancement of cellular activity under combined drug release and ES functionalities, underscoring the potential of this dual-function system as a next-generation wound healing device.</p>