Wireless, closed-loop, smart bandage with integrated sensors and stimulators for advanced wound care and accelerated healing

'Smart' bandages based on multimodal wearable devices could enable real-time physiological monitoring and active intervention to promote healing of chronic wounds. However, there has been limited development in incorporation of both sensors and stimulators for the current smart bandage technologies. Additionally, while adhesive electrodes are essential for robust signal transduction, detachment of existing adhesive dressings can lead to secondary damage to delicate wound tissues without switchable adhesion. Here we overcome these issues by developing a flexible bioelectronic system consisting of wirelessly powered, closed-loop sensing and stimulation circuits with skin-interfacing hydrogel electrodes capable of on-demand adhesion and detachment. In mice, we demonstrate that our wound care system can continuously monitor skin impedance and temperature and deliver electrical stimulation in response to the wound environment. Across preclinical wound models, the treatment group healed similar to 25% more rapidly and with similar to 50% enhancement in dermal remodeling compared with control. Further, we observed activation of proregenerative genes in monocyte and macrophage cell populations, which may enhance tissue regeneration, neovascularization and dermal recovery.

Automated summary

Smart bandages based on multimodal wearable devices have the potential to monitor and intervene in the healing process of chronic wounds. However, the integration of sensors and stimulators in current smart bandage technologies is limited. In this study, a flexible bioelectronic system with wireless power, closed-loop sensing and stimulation circuits, and skin-interfacing hydrogel electrodes with switchable adhesion was developed to address these challenges. The wound care system showed improved healing and tissue regeneration in preclinical wound models.