Bandages help heal wounds.

SGGP 01/04/2023 09:28

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have successfully developed a smart bandage used for treating and monitoring wounds, which is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes.

The smart bandage is made of a flexible, stretchable polymer, embedded with an electronic chip, biosensors, and a layer of medication (pictured). Normally, daily bandages have layers of absorbent material, but this bandage helps monitor uric acid levels. It will send alerts when the pH or temperature of the wound changes. The bandage can also indicate whether there is any inflammation or bacterial infection in the wound. “There are many different types of chronic wounds, especially in diabetic ulcers and burns, which are long-lasting and cause significant problems for patients. This bandage can treat chronic wounds effectively and less expensively,” said Wei Gao, assistant professor of medical engineering at the Heritage Medical Research Institute.

The bandage works in three steps. First, it wirelessly transmits data from the wound to smart devices such as computers, tablets, or phones. Next, it can deliver a medication stored in the bandage directly to the wound site to treat inflammation and infection. Finally, it can deliver a low-voltage electrical current to the wound site. This will help regenerate tissue and allow for faster healing. The wearable bandage is completely biocompatible, mechanically flexible, stretchable, and adapts to the wound throughout the healing process.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bang-giup-chua-lanh-vet-thuong-post684189.html