[The Epoch Times, March 1, 2023](The Epoch Times reporter Linda compiles and reports) The latest smart bandage can stimulate cell growth, speed up wound healing, and decompose itself in due course. We’re used to putting Band-Aids on our wounds, but researchers are also exploring some high-tech ways to do it. An ultra-thin smart bandage might be a breakthrough medical solution for chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers. The latest technology uses electrotherapy to speed healing and goes one step further: once healed, it safely biodegrades itself.
The project was developed by researchers at Northwestern University, and the findings were published February 22 in the journalscientific progress“(Science Advances) journal. So far, it has only been tested on mice, resulting in the first absorbable bioelectrical bandage, and the first example of a smart regenerative system.
Fifteen to 20 percent of people with diabetes will develop an ulcer at some point in their lives. Nerve damage due to diabetes often goes unnoticed and heals slowly or never due to reduced blood circulation, and the longer a wound is left open the more likely it is to develop serious, sometimes life-threatening complications or Infect.
Electrotherapy can solve this problem by attracting new blood to the wound and speeding up healing, but the medical equipment required for the treatment is too bulky and can only be performed in a hospital. And smart electric bandages will save patients time, money and lengthy doctor visits.
Here’s how it works: The new flexible bandage wraps around the wound site and has electrodes on both sides of the material. One side sits on top of the wound and the other surrounds it; at the same time, it has a coil for energy harvesting and near-field communication (NFC) for wireless transmission of data. As the electrical current speeds up wound healing, additional sensors keep tabs on progress and can alert doctors if something is wrong.
During the development phase, the team realized that electrodes made of a very thin metal molybdenum (Molybdenum) might biodegrade slowly without impeding the healing process. In studies applying the new bandages to mice with diabetic ulcers, the team found that most of the metal was absorbed by the rodents within six months, with very little remaining in the mouse organs. What’s more, with just 30 minutes of electrotherapy a day, healing time was accelerated by 30%.
Once trials in larger animals are complete, the team hopes to move to human trials. Because there are no drugs in the system, FDA approval for bandages may be much faster than other treatment options. ◇
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei
