A new study claims that hydrodynamic electric bandages can heal serious injuries 30% faster than conventional treatments.
The inexpensive bandage uses electric fields to promote healing in chronic wounds that heal slowly, or at all, such as those that develop in diabetics.
Doctors say these wounds are “particularly troubling” because they often recur after treatment and pose a significantly increased risk of amputation or death.
The researchers explained that one of the main challenges associated with chronic wounds is that existing treatments are very expensive and can cause further problems for patients.
In an animal study published this week in the journal Science Advances, an international team of researchers evaluated the Water-Powered Electronic-Free Bandage (WPED), a disposable bandage equipped with electrodes on one side and a small biocompatible battery on the other.
“Our goal was to develop a much cheaper technology that would speed up healing in patients with chronic wounds,” said study co-author Dr. Amey Bandkar of North Carolina State University.
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“We also wanted to make sure it was a technology that people could easily use at home, rather than something that patients could only receive in a clinical setting.”
Co-author Sam Xia, a professor at Columbia University, said the lightweight bandage, which delivers electrical stimulation simply by adding water, was more effective than bulky and expensive wound treatments.
The bandage is placed so that the electrodes are in contact with the wound, and a drop of water is placed on the battery, activating an electric field for several hours.
Electric fields are crucial, explained co-author Dr Rajaram Kaveti, saying: “It’s well established that electric fields can speed up the healing of chronic wounds.”
The electrodes are designed to flex with the dressing to fit the surface of chronic wounds, which are often deep and irregularly shaped.
They tested the wound dressing in diabetic mice, a commonly used model of human wound healing.
“We found that electrical stimulation from the device accelerated wound closure, promoted the formation of new blood vessels, and reduced inflammation, all of which suggests an overall improvement in wound healing,” reported Maggie Jacques, a graduate student at Columbia University and co-first author of the study.
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Mice treated with WPED healed about 30% faster than those who received the traditional bandage.
“Equally important, these bandages can be produced at a relatively low cost, with overhead costs ranging from a few dollars per bandage,” Dr Bandkar said.
“New treatments are urgently needed, as the last treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration was developed more than 25 years ago,” said co-author Professor Aristide Bebes of the Beth Israel Deaconess Center in Boston.
“Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious problem that can lead to lower limb amputations. (This) has the potential to revolutionize the management of diabetic foot ulcers.”
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Once applied, patients will be able to move around and easily participate in their daily activities after receiving treatment conveniently in their own home.
“Our next steps are to move forward with additional testing that brings us closer to clinical trials and ultimately to a commercialization that can help people.”
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