Even Smarter Bandages
September 11, 2018 | Terry Sharrer
pH is an important factor in wound healing. Normally healing wounds have pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5; chronic wounds range from 6.5 and upward. Thus, pH is one of the factors, along with temperature and oxygen sensing that Tufts University engineers have designed into gel-bandages which, besides sensing conditions, can deliver drugs accordingly. “A microprocessor reads the data from the sensors and can release drug on demand from its carriers by heating the gel. The entire construct is attached to a transparent medical tape to form a flexible bandage less than 3 mm thick. Components were selected to keep the bandage low cost and disposable, except for the microprocessor, which can be re-used.” MORE
Image Credit:Tufts University