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Prof. Suk Won Hwang research group’s, smart electronic dressing system for wound analysis and bioph
2022.11.24 Views 267
smart electronic dressing system for wound analysis
and biophysical therapy in real time
Expected role as a digital medical platform through
engineering, biochemistry, and medical convergence research
Prof. Suk Won Hwang research group’s results published in Nano Today
Go Gawnjin, Yang Seungmin, Prof. Suk Won Hwang
and biophysical therapy in real time
Expected role as a digital medical platform through
engineering, biochemistry, and medical convergence research
Prof. Suk Won Hwang research group’s results published in Nano Today
Go Gawnjin, Yang Seungmin, Prof. Suk Won Hwang
□ Korea University (President Jeong Jin-taek) KU-KIST Graduate School of Convergence Prof. Suk Won Hwang's research group with Prof. Seung Ja Oh of Kyung Hee University and Prof. Kang Won Lee of Seoul National University developed a smart electronic medical system that is applied to a wound to measure inflammation and infection information, and treats the wound based on this. Developed a smart electronic medical system. This results is expected to play an important role as a telemedicine or digital medical platform.
□ The results of this research were published online on November 12 in the world-renowned academic journal ‘Nano Today (IF=18.962)’ and are scheduled for publication in December.
* Title : Soft, wireless electronic dressing system for wound analysis and biophysical therapy
* Journal : Nano Today (Nano Today 2022, 47, 101685)
□ In general, a dressing or band attached to a wound on the skin serves to protect the affected area and prevent contamination. The dressing band is evolving into a diagnostic device that identifies the treatment status or infection beyond its existing wound protection role. It can also help restore wound healing by passing a tiny electric current.
It is a patch type wireless medical device capable of both diagnosis and treatment.
□ In this study, we succeeded in developing an electronic dressing that simultaneously collects cathepsin/humidity/pH/temperature level changes related to inflammation or infection in wounds. In particular, we developed an ‘inflammation-responsive hydrogel’ to measure ‘cathepsin,’ a biomarker enzyme secreted at the wound site during inflammation or infection, and developed an ‘inflammatory sensor’ by combining it with a thin-film electrode. In the existing medical technology, the inflammation level test is performed by collecting blood from the affected area, so it takes a lot of time to analyze it, so it was difficult to take quick medical measures. status can be checked. In addition, based on the measured wound condition, the electronic dressing can give fine current pulses to reduce inflammation and greatly shorten the recovery period.
□ Prof. suk Won Hwang of Korea University said, “This study result enables real-time monitoring of inflammation and infection on the body, which has not been approached with previous technologies, through the convergence of engineering technology, biochemistry, and medical research that implements flexible electronic devices. In addition, by combining electrical stimulation treatment technology, it will be effective in treating various acute and chronic skin diseases such as bedsores in critically ill patients who have difficulty moving.”
□ This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Medical Device Development Fund Grant funded by the ministry of Trade, and the Ministry of the Science and ICT, under ICT Creative Consilience program supervided by the Institute for Information & communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP).
1. Introduction
A general wound dressing band protects the wound, prevents contamination, and absorbs bodily fluids generated from the wound to create an appropriate moist environment to help speedy wound healing.
Wounds that require long-term treatment and management, such as diabetic wounds, ulcerative wounds, burns, and bedsores, are referred to as chronic wounds.
These chronic wounds are difficult to treat and carry a high risk of sepsis due to infection, and if mismanaged, parts of the body may have to be amputated or life-threatening.
In particular, these wound disease patients are often severely ill patients with reduced immunity and physical functions or elderly patients with reduced mobility, so they require more special wound care, but existing medical technology relies only on changing dressings by caregivers.
Therefore, we tried to develop a smart dressing technology that has the function of continuous monitoring of inflammation or infection of the wound and the function of helping treatment in addition to the function of the existing dressing.
2. Results
In this work, we succeeded in developing an electronic dressing that simultaneously collects cathepsin/humidity/pH/temperature changes related to inflammation or infection occurring in wounds.
In particular, we developed an ‘inflammation-responsive hydrogel’ to measure ‘cathepsin,’ a biomarker enzyme secreted at the wound site during inflammation or infection, and developed an ‘inflammatory sensor’ by combining it with a thin-film electrode.
Inflammation level tests in existing medical technologies are performed by collecting blood from the affected area, so it is difficult to take quick medical measures because it takes time to analyze. With our wound dressing sensor, patients can check the level of inflammation and the condition of the affected area directly with a smartphone app.
In addition, based on the measured wound condition, the electronic dressing can give fine current pulses to reduce inflammation and greatly shorten the recovery period. Electric fields applied from electrodes attached around wounds have been shown to amplify the endogenous electric fields that naturally exist in our bodies, activating the migration of epithelial cells and improving tissue regeneration.
We applied the developed electronic dressing to the wounds of mice and succeeded in wirelessly monitoring real-time changes in cathepsin/humidity/pH/temperature for 3 weeks. In particular, it was confirmed in real time through the sensor that a large amount of cathepsin was secreted from inflamed wounds.
We confirmed that the wound healing period was shortened by applying electric stimulation treatment to the wound with an electronic dressing. As a result of detailed tissue analysis, it was shown that electrical stimulation promoted the regeneration of damaged internal tissues and suppressed inflammation.
3. Conclusion
The smart dressing system can measure cathepsin/humidity/pH/temperature changes related to inflammation or infection occurring in the wound in real time and apply electrical stimulation to promote healing. This result is expected to help manage and rehabilitate various skin diseases or acute and chronic wounds.
Figure 1. a. Exploded view of the smart dressing system. The system fabricated on a soft polymer substrate is attached to the affected area, reads biomarkers secreted from the wound and various physiological signals (humidity, pH, temperature) comprehensively, and performs electrical stimulation therapy to promote healing. b. A picture of the smart dressing system applied to a wound model that simulates the physical properties and shape of the skin and an enlarged picture of the sensor part. c. A schematic diagram showing the overall components and operation flow of smart dressing.
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