“Intelligent Wound Dressing: A Breakthrough Solution for Chronic Wounds”

Most of the time when we have cuts, abrasions, burns, or other injuries, our body will repair and heal itself until the wound heals. But not every time the wound heals on its own. Especially in diabetic patients, the self-healing process is slower than normal and sometimes it can become a chronic wound. or wound infection

This problem is not only bothering patients. But it also causes the healthcare system of many countries to bear enormous costs per year, for example in the United States where the cost of this part reaches 25 billion US dollars. In the UK, according to the National Health Service (NHS), 2.2 million people in the UK had chronic wounds in 2019, costing the NHS a year at around £5.3 billion.

But in the near future, it may be easier to treat these chronic wounds. When a team of researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) came up with the idea of ​​”intelligent wound dressing” that will help chronic wounds heal faster. more efficient It also has a lower cost.

Gao Wei, the inventor of this genius adhesive plaster, said. “There are many types of chronic wounds. Especially diabetic wounds and burns that take a long time to heal and create big problems for patients. There is a need for technology to help these wounds heal faster.”

Smart bandages are made from flexible polymers that are implanted with electronics and drugs. The electronics allow sensors to monitor molecules such as uric acid, lactic acid, and wound conditions such as pH levels. or temperature in the wound, which is an indicator of inflammation or bacterial infection Different from general bandages that only have absorbent material stacked in layers only

Smart bandage consists of two parts: a flexible printed circuit board part that can be reused. and part of a single-use wound dressing The bandage consists of biological sensors, electrodes and drug-loaded hydrogels.

This smart bandage responds in three ways: 1. It transmits the data collected from the wound to a nearby computer, tablet or smartphone without using cables. for a patient or medical professional to examine 2. Apply antibiotics or other drugs stored within the plaster directly to the wound to treat inflammation or infection. 3. release a soft electric current to the wound to stimulate tissue growth which helps the wound heal faster

From testing animals in the laboratory, it was found that Smart bandages can provide researchers with real-time information about the wound condition and metabolic status of laboratory animals. As well as helping chronically infected wounds like those found in humans heal faster. In mice using smart bandages that received both drug and electrical release, wounds closed faster and scarred compared to mice that did not use smart bandages. intelligent wound

Gao Wei said The results are satisfactory and will continue to conduct trials with the University of Southern California to improve the adhesive plaster technology. Including testing in humans, which may require different treatments in animals.

The researchers expect the cost of reusable electronic components to be in the tens of dollars. A single-use bandage costs about $2-3, and now smart bandages can be used for 1-2 weeks and can be used on a wide range of human subjects. within the next 5-10 years

Image: Caltech