Flexible Wearable Bioadhesive Ultrasound Patch for Synergistic Piezoelectric and Acoustic Stimulation in Diabetic Wound Healing

Descripción del proyecto

Parche flexible para tratar las úlceras del pie diabético

Las úlceras del pie diabético son heridas crónicas que pueden provocar infecciones, reducir la calidad de vida e incluso conducir a la amputación. Por ello, se necesitan con urgencia nuevos tratamientos no invasivos que mejoren los resultados clínicos y la seguridad de los pacientes. En el proyecto FW-BAUS, respaldado por las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se desarrollará un parche flexible que combina tecnología de ultrasonidos con un hidrogel bioadhesivo que contiene materiales biocompatibles y nanofibras piezoeléctricas. Estos componentes proporcionan estimulación mecánica y eléctrica, favorecen la regeneración de los tejidos y la formación de vasos sanguíneos, reducen las infecciones bacterianas y mejoran la cicatrización de las heridas. Esta plataforma innovadora constituye un enfoque prometedor para un tratamiento más rápido y eficaz.

Objetivo

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) present serious clinical and socioeconomic challenges, often becoming chronic wounds that raise morbidity and risk of limb loss. Pharmacological treatments face limitations such as drug resistance, poor delivery, and immune complications, emphasizing the urgent need for effective, noninvasive alternatives. Ultrasound, electrostimulation, and photomodulation are FDA-approved, noninvasive options for tissue engineering. To address this, we propose a flexible wearable bioadhesive ultrasound patch (FW-BAUS) designed to actively modulate the DFU microenvironment. FW-BAUS combines a flexible ultrasound patch with dense piezoelectric transducers embedded in a bioadhesive hydrogel composed of piezoelectric poly-L-lactic acid nanofibers (NF-PLLA), chitosan, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), α-ketoglutaric acid, and acrylic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (AAc-NHS). The hydrogel’s physical and covalent bonds allow strong yet reversible adhesion to moist skin, while its bioactive components support cell migration, neovascularization, collagen synthesis, and clotting. NF-PLLA nanofibers synergize with the patch’s piezoelectric elements to provide simultaneous mechanical and electrical stimulation. Ultrasound energy converts in situ into localized electric fields at the wound interface through NF-PLLA, while acoustic radiation force delivers mechanical stimuli. This dual stimulation is expected to accelerate diabetic wound healing. Furthermore, NF-PLLA’s intrinsic antibacterial properties, combined with chitosan’s antimicrobial effects and ultrasound-enhanced bacterial sensitivity, offer potent infection defense, aiding the healing process. Electrospinning aligns NF-PLLA nanofibers to maximize piezoelectricity while minimizing processing steps. By integrating biocompatible adhesion, mechanical-electrical stimulation, and antibacterial activity, FW-BAUS offers an innovative, noninvasive platform to accelerate DFU healing and improve clinical outcomes.