Electric Bandage Speeds Wound Healing

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/OeXA5rxBAN0

Northwestern bioengineers have developed a stretchable and naturally resorbable electrobandage that speeds diabetic wound healing by some 30% in experimental animals. The wireless system, powered by an induction coil, feeds tiny voltages through a solid state circuit that both regulates their application to the flower-shaped and circular positive and negative electrodes and measures the progress of wound healing based on measurement of resultant currents. The serpentine molybdenum electrodes dissolve when no longer needed eliminating the need for physical removal that could damage the fragile newly-healed tissues. While electrotherapy is not a new concept in wound healing as it has been successfully applied to help with non-healing fractures, it usually requires implantable electrodes. Expect this new electrobandage to be commercialized and used widely to promote healing of chronic wounds including those frequently found in diabetics.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ade4687

#wound #healing #electrotherapy #bandage #diabetes