Multi-Axis Stretchable Zippers for Personalized Wound Healing

Abstract

Effective and controlled mechanical wound closure is essential for preventing infection, promoting re-epithelialization, and minimizing scarring. However, existing wound closure technologies are limited to uniaxial closures and lack programmability, which hinders their adaptability to wounds with complex morphologies and restricts personalized treatment needs. Here, we propose a multiaxial stretchable wound zipper engineered from electrothermally driven mechanical metamaterials. The device features a hierarchical lattice of shape memory alloys, enabling six axes of stretching and programmable contraction via a smartphone. It delivers adjustable contraction force ranging from 0 to 0.494 MPa, adaptable to diverse wound geometries, with a rapid response time of approximately 1.73 s. In the rat model, the device achieved near-instantaneous closure of linear wounds and improved the circular wound-healing rate by 35.91% compared with the control group. Mechanistically, the programmable mechanical contraction promoted vascular regeneration, re-epithelialization, and collagen matrix remodeling, ultimately accelerating personalized wound healing. The device achieved rapid, robust, and programmable multiaxial contraction, demonstrating substantial potential for personalized wound management and clinical translation.