Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • The SES-suture accelerated wound healing by a factor of 1.6 compared to commercial sutures in a rabbit muscle incision model, demonstrating a significant improvement in postoperative recovery rate. • • Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that α-SMA and CD31 expression in the SES group was approximately 2.8 and 3.2 times higher than the blank group, respectively, indicating enhanced muscle fiber formation and angiogenesis. • • The suture is composed entirely of absorbable materials (magnesium, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone), ensuring biodegradability and eliminating the need for suture removal, which reduces patient discomfort and infection risk. • • The rabbit model was selected due to its closer approximation to human musculoskeletal physiology compared to rodents, providing more clinically relevant data for translational research.
Abstract
Sutures, as necessary medical devices for postoperative treatment, are no longer merely supportive but are required to have advanced functions to promote repair. Here, we report an absorbable self-powered electrical stimulation suture (SES-suture). The suture is composed entirely of absorbable materials (magnesium, polylactic acid, and polycaprolactone) and can be used in vivo for incision closure and repair. The suture has the capacity to generate spontaneous electrical stimulation in response to body movement, allowing for accelerated tissue reconstruction. An in vivo muscle incision repair model in rabbits demonstrated that the wound healing rate under treatment with this suture was 1.6 times faster than that of commercial sutures, proving its postoperative therapeutic capability. Immunofluorescence and quantitative analyses showed that SES-sutures significantly increased α-SMA and CD31 expression, with levels approximately 2.8 and 3.2 times higher than the blank group, respectively, indicating enhanced angiogenesis and muscle regeneration. The SES-suture exhibited excellent mechanical properties, sustained electrical output, structural and functional stability after implantation, and good biocompatibility. This large animal approach offers crucial translational evidence for potential human applications, addressing the limitations of rodent models due to differences in biomechanics and regeneration rates. While the biosafety profile requires further long-term evaluation, the findings strongly suggest that SES-sutures represent a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancing tissue regeneration and functional recovery.
1. Introduction
Traditional absorbable sutures serve primarily as mechanical fixation devices, lacking the capacity to actively promote tissue repair. While electrical stimulation (ES) has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing muscle regeneration by modulating cellular behaviors such as migration, proliferation, and differentiation, its clinical application has been limited by the need for external power sources and complex equipment. The development of self-powered sutures that generate electrical stimulation in response to physiological movements represents a significant advancement, potentially overcoming these barriers and enabling continuous, localized therapy at the wound site.
Previous work in rodent models has shown promise, but the translational relevance is constrained by inherent differences in biomechanics and tissue regeneration rates between rodents and humans. The square/cube law and faster healing in rodents often fail to predict human outcomes. This study addresses this bottleneck by employing a rabbit model, which more closely mimics human musculoskeletal physiology, and by fabricating a fully absorbable, self-powered suture. The device converts mechanical motion into electrical signals, providing a clinically relevant platform to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of electrical stimulation in a large animal model, thereby bridging the gap between bench research and clinical application.
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Guifang Sun, Yuefan Jin, Zhouquan Sun, Haifeng Lu, Linpeng Li (2026). A Self-Powered Electrical Stimulation Suture for Muscle Tissue Repair in Rabbits. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3584-3
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the specific material compositions and degradation profiles of the SES-suture, and how do they influence the duration of electrical stimulation?
The SES-suture is composed of magnesium, polylactic acid, and polycaprolactone. These materials are fully absorbable, but the exact degradation rates and their correlation with the duration of electrical output are not detailed in the provided text. However, the suture is designed to generate spontaneous electrical stimulation in response to body movement, and it remained structurally and functionally stable after implantation, suggesting a sustained output during the healing period.
How does the mechanical strength of the SES-suture compare to commercial sutures, and what are the failure modes under tensile or cyclic loading?
The text states that the SES-suture possessed excellent mechanical properties, but specific quantitative data (e.g., tensile strength, Young's modulus) are not provided. Comparative data against commercial sutures are not given. For clinical use, it is essential to ensure that the suture can withstand physiological tensions without premature failure.
What is the mechanism of electrical stimulation generation, and how does the output voltage/current correlate with the extent of body movement?
The SES-suture generates electrical stimulation in response to body movement, likely via triboelectric or piezoelectric effects, as the materials include magnesium and polymers. However, the exact mechanism and quantitative output parameters (e.g., voltage, current density) are not specified in the provided text. Further characterization is needed to optimize the output for therapeutic efficacy.
What are the long-term biosafety and degradation byproduct effects of the SES-suture, particularly regarding magnesium and polymer degradation products?
The text acknowledges that the biosafety profile is incomplete, especially regarding long-term implantation effects. Magnesium degradation produces hydrogen gas and alkaline byproducts, which could affect local tissue pH. Polylactic acid and polycaprolactone degrade into lactic acid and caprolactone, which are metabolizable. Future studies in non-human primates are planned to assess safety parameters.
How does the SES-suture's performance in the rabbit model translate to human clinical scenarios, considering differences in muscle size, movement patterns, and healing rates?
The rabbit model was chosen because its muscle development and physiology are more similar to humans than rodents. However, humans have larger muscle mass and different movement patterns, which could affect the magnitude and frequency of electrical stimulation generated. The 1.6-fold improvement in healing rate observed in rabbits may not directly translate to humans, but the study provides a proof-of-concept for a large animal model. Further validation in non-human primates is planned.
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