Conductive biomaterials for chronic wound healing

• Reviews recent advances in conductive biomaterials for chronic wound healing, emphasizing electroactive regulation of cellular behavior and tissue regeneration. • Highlights multifunctional dressings with integrated antibacterial, antioxidant, and angiogenic properties that synergize with electrical stimulation to modulate chronic wound microenvironments. • Discusses translational challenges including biocompatibility, degradability, large-scale fabrication, and integration of self-powered or smart-responsive systems. • Proposes future directions in programmable conductive platforms, combining energy harvesting, drug delivery, and real-time biofeedback for personalized wound therapy. Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, remain a serious clinical challenge due to their prolonged healing time and susceptibility to infection. There is an urgent need for advanced therapies beyond traditional dressings. Conductive biomaterials have emerged as a promising solution by actively harnessing the body’s bioelectric signals to stimulate tissue repair. These materials—ranging from carbon-based nanomaterials and metal-based materials to intrinsically conductive polymers and hybrid composites—can deliver localized electrical stimulation, eliminate bacteria through electrochemical and photothermal means, modulate oxidative stress, and serve as scaffolds to support cell growth. By integrating conductivity with biocompatibility, they directly address key impediments in chronic wound healing (e.g. persistent inflammation, high bacterial load, poor vascularization) in a more dynamic fashion than passive wound dressings. This review highlights the categories of conductive biomaterials and their mechanisms of action in promoting chronic wound healing, including enhancing cell migration and proliferation via electrical cues and providing inherent antimicrobial protection. Recent advances in “smart” conductive dressings demonstrate accelerated wound closure and infection control in preclinical models, underscoring the significant therapeutic potential of these bioelectronic materials. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges for translating conductive biomaterial-based wound therapies into clinical practice, pointing toward a new era of active, intelligent wound care.