Photo-driven electronic skin enable activation of calcium channel for refractory wound healing

The growing threat of refractory wound has created imperative need for the exploration of novel repair materials and therapeutic strategies. The disrupted endogenous electric fields in refractory wound may prolong the healing process. Hence, apply exogenous electrical stimulation to reestablish endogenous electric fields may be a promising way for refractory wounds treatment. Herein, a photo-driven electronic skin consist of p-type Si thin-film and near-infrared light was developed. This electronic skin could electrically modulate the intracellular calcium oscillation and significantly promote the fibroblasts’ adhesion, proliferation and migration. Specifically, the average spreading area achieved 1.23 times higher than plane group after 24 h seeding. The cell proliferation quantity was 117 % higher than plane group after 3 days’ PES treatment. As for cell migration, the complete wound closure was observed at 48 h in all the PES treatment group compared to 76.47 ± 1.23 coverage area in control group. Furthermore, it demonstrated rapid closure rate of a full-thickness circular diabetic skin defects with photoelectric stimulation (PES) derived from electronic skin, the wound was almost healed at 14 days’ treatment. Furthermore, the expression level of pro-inflammation factors of IL-1β and TNF-α were reduced. Proteomic analysis showed that the metabolism process, the cellular processes of transport and catabolism, cell motility were remarkably promoted after PES treatment. The transport and catabolism process may regulate by mTOR signal pathway, and the increased cellular processes of cell motility may result of actomyosin contractility. This photo-driven electronic skin not only provided a facile therapeutic strategy and theoretical basis for refractory wound, but also provided a novel insight into potential mechanism underlying electrical stimulation promoting tissue repair.