We’re truly on the leading edge of drugs, now.
A “smart” bandage is on the horizon, as researchers develop a product that may monitor healing and supply antibiotics to the injury site, in addition to stimulate the expansion of tissue with electrical signals.
Led by professor of medical engineering Dr. Wei Gao, California Institute of Technology scientists have manufactured a recent technology that would help our bodies heal more efficiently from cuts, scrapes and injuries.
Their high-tech polymer bandages would, in theory, heal wounds more quickly and affordably, especially for those with certain chronic illnesses which are known to decelerate the healing process, corresponding to diabetes.
It’s been estimated that 6.5 million Americans experience long-term, chronic wounds every yr.
“There are various several types of chronic wounds — especially in diabetic ulcers and burns that last an extended time and cause huge issues for the patient,” Gao told SWNS. “There’s a requirement for technology that may facilitate recovery.”
“We have now shown this proof of concept in small animal models, but, down the road, we would love to extend the soundness of the device and likewise to check it on larger chronic wounds since the wound parameters and microenvironment may vary from site to site.”
The researchers tested the barely-there bandage – which is “biocompatible, mechanically flexible, stretchable [and] skin-conformal” – on rodents in a study published within the journal Science Advances on Friday.
“The device consists of two parts – one reusable flexible printed circuit board and one disposable patch,” said Dr. Gao, per The Guardian. “The disposable patch accommodates biosensors, electrodes and drug-loaded hydrogels.”
The scientists used the bandages on the injuries of each mice and rats with diabetes, before and after infection, for the study, demonstrating the “smart” bandage’s incredible potential. It was in a position to monitor various biomarkers corresponding to temperature, pH and other aspects of wound healing to assist doctors track inflammation and burgeoning infection.
Within the study, the rodents got antibiotics and electrical stimulation. The mice given the special treatment showed higher healing progress than the rodents without the bandages.
If used on humans, the bandage wouldn’t only give you the chance to assemble data and transmit to a sensible device or computer for patient and doctor review, nevertheless it would also deliver medication or a “low-level electrical field.” Previous studies have shown that electrical stimulation, especially when utilized in a bandage, expedites healing.
All told, researchers estimate the fee of the electronic patch could be lower than $100.
Nevertheless, the impressive scientific feat isn’t expected to hit the market for one more five or 10 years.
