Smart bandages for diagnosing diseases

2023: Product Announcement

In mid-April 2023, researchers from Linköping University in Sweden announced the development of an innovative wound dressing that allows you to quickly detect signs of infection and change the course of therapy accordingly.

It is noted that the treatment of chronic wounds is associated with a number of difficulties. The risk of infection is constantly present, and the increase in the number of bacteria resistant to antibiotics only worsens the situation. Another problem is the need to regularly check the wound: at the same time, you have to remove the applied bandage, which not only creates discomfort for patients, but also worsens the healing process. In addition, there is a risk of introduction of pathogens.

Wound dressing

To solve these problems, the researchers developed a new type of bandage that does not need to be removed regularly. At the same time, it allows medical professionals or even patients themselves to determine whether the wound is infected. The proposed technology is based on the tendency of infected wounds to reduce acidity and become more alkaline.

Uninfected wounds usually have a pH of 5.5, whereas infected lesions turn out to be more alkaline - with a pH of 8 or higher. The new dressing contains nanoparticles of mesoporous silica saturated with a dye called bromothymol blue: it changes color from yellow to blue when the pH rises above 7. Moreover, the bandage changes color at the earliest stages of the development of infection - often before the appearance of other visible signs, such as redness or pus. This allows medical staff to take the necessary measures as quickly as possible to prevent infection. This approach can lead to more effective treatment and better lives for patients with difficult to heal wounds.^[1]

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