Are Smart Wound Dressings the Future?
10th May 2023 - Last modified 18th October 2023
By Bree Foster PhD, Science Writer
Wound dressings have developed dramatically throughout history. From a simple plaster made of mud or clay to the bioactive and antimicrobial dressings of today, the world of wound care has changed immeasurably.
Today, cutting edge research is underway around the world to develop what is known as smart wound dressings. These wound dressings are much more than simply a protective barrier against infection. In this blog, we discuss the different ways wound care is advancing and how it could change in the future.
The Painful Reality of Traditional Wound Care
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and also the most vulnerable. When your skin is damaged, it can take a long time to heal and be very painful and disruptive in the meantime. In the worst-case scenario, an untreated or badly managed wound can result in significant medical issues, including infection, sepsis, the need for limb amputation, and even death.
Annually, over 305 million people worldwide report acute wounds such as surgical and traumatic injuries, as well as abrasions and superficial burns [1]. Additionally, chronic wounds, which are open for more than a month, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This is due in part to the rising average age of the population, along with a growth in the prevalence of chronic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. In the UK, the annual incidence of wounds increased by 71% between 2013 and 2018 [2]. One study estimated that the annual NHS cost of wound management was £8.3 billion [2].
In traditional wound care, dressings are changed regularly to check whether the wound is infected. This means that care staff have to lift the dressing and make an assessment based on appearance and tests. This can be a painful procedure that not only disturbs the process of healing but also increases the risk of infection.
So, how can doctors make sure a dressed wound is healing without taking off the bandage?
Smart Wound Dressings to the Rescue
One of the significant limitations of traditional wound dressings is their inability to provide information about the healing status and environmental conditions of the wound, such as pH, bacterial loading, tissue oxygenation, and the level of inflammation. Without this key information, patients may experience prolonged hospitalisation, numerous doctor visits, and costly laboratory testing to diagnose and treat acute and chronic wounds.
Smart bandages are an innovative wound covering that incorporates technology to help optimise the tissue repair process. These smart wound dressings are equipped with sensors that can provide real-time data on physical and chemical factors that influence the healing process. Smart bandages give doctors a much deeper insight into the health of the wound without the need for multiple dressing changes and regular visits. This helps save a patient’s time, while also easing their overall pain and discomfort and reducing the possibility of developing prolonged problems caused by infection.
One of the most critical factors in wound healing is balanced pH levels. An elevated pH level in the wound can promote bacterial growth and inhibit new tissue growth, leading to infection and more painful symptoms. Due to microbial infection and the production of alkaline by-products, an infected wound’s pH may rise from between 4.5 and 6.5 to between 7 and 9.
An increase in pH levels can be detected long before the more common signs of infection – such as pus, soreness or redness – are visible. Therefore, a wound dressing that can detect and warn healthcare providers about a change in pH could prevent more serious signs of infection and revolutionise wound care treatment.
A New Study Reveals pH-Monitoring Bandage
Recently, researchers at Linköping University, in collaboration with colleagues from Örebro and Luleå Universities, have developed a wound dressing made from nanocellulose that can detect infections by monitoring the pH of a wound in real-time [3]. This innovation may pave the way for a brand-new approach to wound care that results in more effective wound treatment, lower healthcare expenses, and a reduced need for antibiotics.
The nanocellulose dressing is optimal for wound healing due to its high permeability for gases and liquid, providing a moist environment to facilitate healing. The tight mesh also prevents entry of bacteria and other microbes, keeping the wound sterile, and reducing the need for bandage changes. In order to indicate a change in pH, the researchers integrated a dye known as bromthymol blue (BTB) into the nanocellulose dressing. When the pH value exceeds 7, BTB turns from yellow to blue, giving a clear signal that the wound may be infected.
Combined with a highly permeable and microbial resistant nanocellulose dressing, this smart wound dressing can remain in place throughout the entire healing process, barring any colour change. This would massively reduce the need for regular doctor visits, dressing changes, and any drastic measures arising from mismanagement.
The Future of Smart Wound Dressings
Researchers around the world are developing new technologies to combat the rising financial burden of both chronic and acute wounds on the global health system. Among the promising advancements, smart wound dressings featuring nano-sensors, wireless communication, and on-demand drug delivery are currently in development [4,5]. Not only will this improve the efficiency and management of wound care but it could also accelerate the healing process.
Imagine, in a not-so-distant future, you could be receiving real-time updates from your own bandage, providing information on your injury and how to manage it.
Exciting healthcare innovations are revealed every day, and at Alto we’re always on the lookout for new technologies to talk about. Writing about scientific and healthcare developments is what we do best, so if you’re looking for help communicating your latest product or service then we would love to get involved!
References
(1) Raju, N.R., Silina, E., Stupin, V., Manturova, N., Chidambaram, S.B., et al., 2022. Multifunctional and Smart Wound Dressings—A Review on Recent Research Advancements in Skin Regenerative Medicine. Pharmaceutics 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14081574
(2) Guest, J.F., Fuller, G.W., Vowden, P., 2020. Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK’s National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013. BMJ Open 10, e045253. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045253
(3) Nanocellulose Dressing Enables Real-Time pH Wound Monitoring [WWW Document]. 2023. Diagnostics from Technology Networks. URL: http://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/nanocellulose-dressing-enables-real-time-ph-wound-monitoring-372282 (accessed 27.4.23).
(4) Pang, Q., Lou, D., Li, S., Wang, G., Qiao, B., Dong, S., Ma, L., Gao, C., Wu, Z., 2020. Smart Flexible Electronics‐Integrated Wound Dressing for Real‐Time Monitoring and On‐Demand Treatment of Infected Wounds. Adv Sci, 7, 1902673. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201902673
(5) Shirzaei Sani, E., Xu, C., Wang, C., Song, Y., Min, J., Tu, J., Solomon, S.A., Li, J., Banks, J.L., Armstrong, D.G., Gao, W., 2023. A stretchable wireless wearable bioelectronic system for multiplexed monitoring and combination treatment of infected chronic wounds. Science Advances, 9, eadf7388. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf7388
