Non-volumetric phase transition of PNIPAM enables high-sensitivity temperature monitoring and photoelectric therapy for wound care

It's a new trend to realize wound regeneration whereas integrate real-time monitoring and controllable therapeutic stimulation. We herein raise a smart and bioactive hydrogel which enables wireless temperature sensing and on-demand photoelectric stimulation for dynamic wound management. We put forward a unique phase transition mechanism in thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel by introducing bioactive motifs inclusive gelatin-dopamine (Gel-DA), named PGD, which significantly enhances temperature sensing feasible for wound monitoring by molecule entanglement. Furthermore, we construct a PGD-BTG dressing by incorporating TiO₂/Bi₂S₃/rGO heterogeneous nanoparticles (BTG NPs) into PGD, expecting to build an all-in strategy of remote photoelectrical stimulation therapy and wound temperature monitoring. The combination of hydrophilic Gel-DA and BTG in the PNIPAM molecular chain establishes a different temperature response mechanism without significant volume phase transition, but with temperature response coefficient as high as −3.92%/°C, which is much higher than PNIPAM and most reports. Finally, by embedding Bluetooth, we realize continuous temperature monitoring to track inflammatory status while generating exogenous electric fields under red-light irradiation, in addition to provide regenerative niche for wound healing. Combining the native conformal adhesion to wound surface and bioactivity, we verify the superior advantageous of this platform a transformative approach for wound management, by unifying regenerative niche, real-time inflammation surveillance and wireless stimulation within a single bioactive platform.