Bandages with integrated pH and temperature sensors and electronically triggered drug release are designed to improve healing
A team of engineers led by Tufts University has developed a prototype bandage designed to actively monitor the condition of chronic wounds and deliver appropriate drug treatments to improve the chances of healing. While the lab-tested bandages remain to be assessed in a clinical context, the research, published today in the journal Small, is aimed at transforming bandaging from a traditionally passive treatment into a more active paradigm to address a persistent and difficult medical challenge.
Chronic skin wounds from burns, diabetes, and other medical conditions can overwhelm the regenerative capabilities of the skin and often lead to persistent infections and amputations. With the idea of providing an assist to the natural healing process, the researchers designed the bandages with heating elements and thermoresponsive drug carriers that can deliver tailored treatments in response to embedded pH and temperature sensors that track infection and inflammation.
Non-healing chronic wounds are a significant medical problem – nearly 15 percent of Medicare beneficiaries require treatment for at least one type of chronic wound or infection at an annual cost of an estimated $28 billion, according to research published in Value in Health. Patients are often older, non-ambulatory, and limited in their ability to provide self-care, yet non-healing wounds are typically treated in an outpatient setting or at home. The smart bandages could provide real time monitoring and delivery of treatment with limited intervention from the patient or caregivers.
“We’ve been able to take a new approach to bandages because of the emergence of flexible electronics,” said Sameer Sonkusale, Ph.D. professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University’s School of Engineering and corresponding co-author for the study. “In fact, flexible electronics have made many wearable medical devices possible, but bandages have changed little since the beginnings of medicine. We are simply applying modern technology to an ancient art in the hopes of improving outcomes for an intractable problem.”
The pH of a chronic wound is one of the key parameters for monitoring its progress. Normal healing wounds fall within the range of pH 5.5 to 6.5, whereas non-healing infected wounds can have pH well above 6.5. Temperature is also an important parameter, providing information on the level of inflammation in and around the wound. While the smart bandages in this study combine pH and temperature sensors, Sonkusale and his team of engineers have also developed flexible sensors for oxygenation – another marker of healing – which can be integrated into the bandage. Inflammation could also be tracked not just by heat, but by specific biomarkers as well.
A microprocessor reads the data from the sensors and can release drug on demand from its carriers by heating the gel. The entire construct is attached to a transparent medical tape to form a flexible bandage less than 3 mm thick. Components were selected to keep the bandage low cost and disposable, except for the microprocessor, which can be re-used.
“The smart bandage we created, with pH and temperature sensors and antibiotic drug delivery, is really a prototype for a wide range of possibilities,” said Sonkusale. “One can imagine embedding other sensing components, drugs, and growth factors that treat different conditions in response to different healing markers.”
The smart bandages have been created and tested successfully under in vitro conditions. Pre-clinical studies are now underway to determine their in vivo clinical advantages in facilitating healing compared to traditional bandages and wound care products.
Learn more: Smart bandages designed to monitor and tailor treatment for chronic wounds
The Latest on: Smart bandages
[google_news title=”” keyword=”smart bandages” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Smart bandages
- Smart Concept #5 teased ahead of Beijing debut, CR-V-sized electric caron April 22, 2024 at 12:20 am
Smart will be showcasing its latest addition to its electric lineup at the Beijing International Auto Show 2024, and it is the Smart #5 (or the Smart ...
- The 6 best smart grills for spring 2024on April 17, 2024 at 1:12 pm
And for you, that means that grilling is getting a whole lot easier. The latest smart grills use smartphone apps to make outdoor cooking almost foolproof. Using this advanced, but very simple-to ...
- Best Smart Locks of 2024on April 14, 2024 at 5:00 pm
One huge advantage that you get with smart locks vs. conventional deadbolts is that you never have to carry a physical key. Instead, many smart locks have keypads for PINs and/or electronic keys ...
- The best smart garage door openers in 2024on April 11, 2024 at 11:51 pm
The best smart garage door openers are a quick and inexpensive way to upgrade your older automatic garage door. This smart home device adds more features to your garage—letting you control its ...
- Are Bandages Putting You at Risk of Cancer? What You Need to Knowon April 6, 2024 at 7:18 am
Trusted bandage brands like Curad and Band-Aid found to contain harmful PFAS PFAS exposure linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and environmental contamination Urgent call for PFAS-free ...
- Evidence of Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Bandageson April 5, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Many brands of bandages may contain PFAS chemicals, according to a new report commissioned by Environmental Health News (EHN) and the consumer watchdog site Mamavation. Of the 40 bandages they ...
- 12 Smart Gadgets You Didn't Know Existedon April 5, 2024 at 9:45 am
While it's easy to be amused by technology-averse family members complaining that smart tech "gets everywhere these days," there's more than a hint of truth to that statement. No longer is the ...
- New Study Finds ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Major Bandage Brands Like Band-Aid, Curad, Up & Upon April 4, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A new study has uncovered signs that “forever chemicals” may be lurking in adhesive bandages from major brands like Band-Aid and Curad and offerings from retail giants CVS, Walmart ...
- ‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Some Band-Aids and Adhesive Brands from Wal-Mart and CVSon April 4, 2024 at 1:02 pm
An independent lab test claims that PFAS may be present in the adhesive or absorbent pads on some common adhesive bandages BAND-AID; Equate/Walmart A new report claims that a type of “forever ...
via Bing News