Multichannel Electronic Suture for Spatiotemporal Monitoring of Inflammatory Levels within Closed Wounds

Abstract

Surgical sutures are indispensable in modern healthcare as the primary means of suturing tissues and facilitating healing. However, conventional sutures inherently obscure the visualization of underlying healing processes, creating a critical diagnostic blind spot for clinicians. Here, we present a flexible multichannel electronic (MultiE) suture for spatiotemporal monitoring of wound pH as a quantitative indicator of inflammatory dynamics within the closed wound bed. The MultiE suture features a coaxial architecture, comprising a central reference fiber electrode surrounded by multiple spirally arranged working electrodes functionalized with polyaniline. This design allows for the customization of diameter, length, as well as the number and distribution of sensing units to adapt to diverse clinical scenarios. In vitro studies demonstrated its stable pH monitoring over 17 days with an average super-Nernstian sensitivity of 80.71 mV pH–1. We further validated its spatiotemporal inflammatory assessment capability in rat models of normal wound and acute inflammation induction wound, without disrupting the wound healing process. This work presents an evolution of conventional sutures that can accurately localize inflammatory areas, showcasing their potential for post-closure wound management.