Yet through such a period of rapid change some tried-and-tested bits of kit have remained reassuringly familiar – bandages, for example.
Some transformative changes could arrive soon, however. Instead of simply protecting and supporting wounds, bandages might also provide useful information about the healing process, enabling personalised treatment.
That is the aim of a group of researchers at the University of Bologna in Italy, who developed a new ‘smart’ bandage that can sensitively measure moisture levels and transmit that data to a smartphone.
Previously, if doctors wanted to check moisture levels – a key factor in the healing process – they needed to remove the bandage, potentially damaging the delicate tissue underneath. The new bandage could allow doctors to check moisture levels without removing it.
The project brought some unique challenges. While providing information could be extremely valuable, bandages must be biocompatible, disposable and inexpensive if they are to be widely used.
To achieve this, the researchers screen-printed a conductive polymer called poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) onto a gauze, and then incorporated the gauze into commercially available bandage materials. Changes in the moisture level of the wound cause a change in the electrical signal of the polymer.
“We also incorporated a cheap, disposable and bandage-compatible RFID tag, similar to those used for clothing security tags, into the textile patch,” said study author Dr Marta Tessarolo. “The tag can wirelessly communicate moisture level data with a smartphone, allowing healthcare staff to know when a bandage needs to be changed.”
Patching things up
Wound treatment could become even more advanced in future, as doctors move beyond bandages for some applications.
Last December, the Bioprint First Aid bioprinter travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) for testing. Developed by the German Space Agency, the device is designed to print patches containing a patient’s own cells directly onto a wound, accelerating healing.
Operated by hand, the bioprinter consists of a handle, dispensing device, print head, guide wheels and cartridges containing a mix of bio-ink, cells, and a crosslinker. The exact make-up of the fluid is still under investigation, says lead developer Dr Michael Becker, as is the type of nozzle used for application.
In the ISS tests, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer printed four patches onto sections of foil on his leg. Instead of cells, the bio-ink was mixed with fluorescent particles, which will reveal the printer’s distribution pattern when they are returned to Earth for analysis.
Healing in outer space
The reasons for the space-based testing were twofold. Devices like the bioprinter could be particularly useful on future missions to the Moon and Mars, countering changes that can occur to healing in space with personalised patches.
Microgravity also provides a unique environment for testing – the pressure from different layers of cells is absent, so the stability of the printed tissue can be analysed for future applications.
Personalised patches could also provide safer and more flexible treatment on Earth, as well as speeding up the healing process.
“If you think about remote places, like Antarctic stations, submarines or ships… this device could really be a benefit in treating superficial wounds,” said Becker.
Using different combinations of cells and biomaterials, future tests of high-resolution 3D bioprinting could also bring a better understanding of tissue generation, regeneration and longevity.
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