02.07.2024

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is developing advanced electronic bandages and other tools to improve the monitoring and healing of chronic wounds. These wearable bioelectronic systems, tested in animal models, have the potential to enhance wound care through controlled drug release and electrical stimulation.

Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, and pressure injuries, are more dangerous than many realize. Patients with chronic wounds have a five-year survival rate of around 70 percent, which is worse than that of breast cancer and prostate cancer. Additionally, treating these wounds is costly, with an estimated annual expense of $28 billion in the U.S. alone.

Image: wearable bioelectronic system displayed on a finger in green gloves; Copyright: Wei Gao, California Institute of Technology

This wearable bioelectronic system, tested in animal models, may eventually improve monitoring and administer treatments such as controlled drug release and electrical stimulation for people with chronic wounds.

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Development of smart bandages

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Caltech are developing smart bandages that can automatically sense and respond to changing conditions inside a wound. These bandages provide continuous data on healing and potential complications, such as infections or abnormal inflammation, and can deliver medications or other treatments in real-time. The USC-Caltech team, supported by the National Institutes of Health, has tested these smart bandages in animal models in a proof-of-concept study.

"We’re creating a new kind of ‘cyber skin’ that can help these wounds heal, while measuring and managing them along the way," said co-senior author David G. Armstrong, PhD, DPM, a professor of surgery and neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. "This paper combines these recent insights to chart a way forward in the wound healing space, so that we can move quickly to help our patients recover."

Leveraging advanced technologies

To refine smart bandage technology, Armstrong and his team have utilized breakthroughs from materials science, nanotechnology, and digital health. "We have been developing next-generation smart bandages that can wirelessly monitor crucial metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in wound fluids," said Wei Gao, PhD, an assistant professor of medical engineering at Caltech.

The review published in Nature Materials assesses the challenges and next steps for delivering these technologies to patients, including regulatory approval and commercialization. Obtaining regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for smart bandages is complex, requiring extensive preclinical and clinical data.

Smart bandages use bioelectronic materials that deliver electrical stimulation to tissues and cells, and advanced hydrogels that store and release drugs in response to environmental factors. These dressings also contain sensors that detect changes in the wound's microenvironment. Electrochemical sensors measure proteins, antibodies, nutrients, and electrolytes, while optical sensors monitor temperature, pH, and oxygen levels.

Improving Patient Outcomes

Responsive wound care can save lives and improve the quality of life for many patients. About half of people with chronic wounds meet the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression and face challenges with mobility, pain, and wound care. "We want to maximize ulcer-free, hospital-free, and activity-rich days for our patients," Armstrong said.

MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Keck School of Medicine of USC

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