LIPUS-activated piezoelectric sutures exert antibacterial and pro-regenerative effects to promote wound healing

Yanhui Lu; Yunyang Bai; Liping Wu; Liqin Tang; Boon Chin Heng; Mingming Xu; Ting Song; Tingting Wu; Tingjun Li; Qiaomei Ren; Yaru Guo; Jifu Mao; Xuliang Deng; Xuehui Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.dtrs.2026.100044

Dental Research ›› 2026, Vol. 1 ›› Issue (3) :100044 DOI: 10.1016/j.dtrs.2026.100044

Research Article

research-article

LIPUS-activated piezoelectric sutures exert antibacterial and pro-regenerative effects to promote wound healing

Yanhui Lu ^a^,¹
, Yunyang Bai ^b^,^c^,¹
, Liping Wu ^a^,¹
, Liqin Tang ^d^,¹
, Boon Chin Heng ^a^,^c
, Mingming Xu ^b^,^c
, Ting Song ^e
, Tingting Wu ^e
, Tingjun Li ^e
, Qiaomei Ren ^e
, Yaru Guo ^b^,^c^,^*
, Jifu Mao ^d^,^**
, Xuliang Deng ^b^,^c^,^f^,^*
, Xuehui Zhang ^a^,^c^,^e^,^f^,^***

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^a Department of Dental Materials & Dental Medical Devices Testing Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , Beijing 100081, PR China

^b Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , Beijing 100081, PR China

^c National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, NMPA Center for Innovation and Research in Regulatory Science, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials & Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomaterials for Oral Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology , Beijing 100081, PR China

^d Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Advanced Textiles, Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Textile Industry for Biomedical Textile Materials and Technology, College of Textiles, Donghua University , Shanghai 201620, PR China

^e Oral Translational Medicine Research Center, Joint Training base for Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory in Oral and Maxillofacial Repair Reconstruction and Regeneration , Jinzhong, Shanxi 030600, PR China

^f Peking University Hospital of Stomatology Sanya Division (Sanya Stomatology Center) , Sanya, Hainan 572013, PR China

^* Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China. E-mail addresses: kqguoyaru@bjmu.edu.cn (Y. Guo),

kqdengxuliang@bjmu.edu.cn (X. Deng),

^** E-mail addresses: jifu.mao@dhu.edu.cn (J. Mao),

^***Corresponding author at: Department of Dental Materials & Dental Medical Devices Testing Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, PR China. zhangxuehui@bjmu.edu.cn (X. Zhang).

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Abstract

Introduction:Sutures are essential for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) and promoting wound healing, yet current drug-based antibacterial strategies often fail to sustain long-term efficacy and may induce drug resistance. This study developed a drug-free dual-function electroactive (DE) suture with piezoelectric properties, and evaluate its antibacterial and wound-healing performance in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods:DE sutures were fabricated and tested under low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS). Antibacterial activity was assessed via ROS generation and bacterial viability assays. In vivo evaluation was performed using rat full thickness incision model with histological and immunohistochemical analyses of inflammation, vascularization, and tissue regeneration. Results and discussion:LIPUS-activated DE sutures generated ROS that disrupted bacterial membranes, significantly reducing bacterial viability.In vivo, DE sutures attenuated inflammation, promoted angiogenesis, and enhanced tissue regeneration. Multi-strand designs showed improved mechanical and pro-healing performance. Conclusion:This piezoelectric-enabled, LIPUS-triggered DE suture provides a drug-free strategy for simultaneous infection control and tissue repair, offering a promising approach in regenerative tissue engineering.

Keywords

Dual-function electroactive suture / Antibacterial effects / Wound healing / Low intensity pulsed ultrasound

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Yanhui Lu, Yunyang Bai, Liping Wu, Liqin Tang, Boon Chin Heng, Mingming Xu, Ting Song, Tingting Wu, Tingjun Li, Qiaomei Ren, Yaru Guo, Jifu Mao, Xuliang Deng, Xuehui Zhang. LIPUS-activated piezoelectric sutures exert antibacterial and pro-regenerative effects to promote wound healing. Dental Research, 2026, 1 (3) : 100044 DOI:10.1016/j.dtrs.2026.100044

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