KINGSTON – Researchers at University of Rhode Island (URI) have developed a smart bandage that can detect and monitor an infection in a wound via the integration of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
The carbon nanotubes are able to identify an infection in the wound by detecting concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and until now, the challenge with using nanotubes for this purpose was in immobilising them in a biocompatible manner to stay sensitive to their surroundings,
“The microfibres that encapsulate the carbon nanotubes accomplish this,” said assistant professor Daniel Roxbury. “The nanotubes do not leach from the material, yet they stay sensitive to hydrogen peroxide within the wounds.”
The smart bandage is monitored by a miniaturised wearable device, which wirelessly (optically) detects the signal from the carbon nanotubes. The signal can then be transmitted to a smartphone or similar device to automatically alert the patient or a health care provider.
“This device will solely be used for diagnostic purposes,” said Roxbury. “However, the hope is that the device will diagnose an infection at an early stage, necessitating fewer antibiotics and preventing drastic measures, such as limb amputation. We envisage it being particularly useful for those with diabetes, where the management of chronic wounds is routine.”
Roxbury’s NanoBio Engineering Laboratory used several advanced technologies to make the bandage a reality.
A microfabrication process to precisely place nanosensors inside the individual fibres of the fabric was designed and optimised, advanced microscopes were employed to study the structure of the materials and a near-infrared spectrometer – home-built by former URI graduate student Mohammad Moein Safaee, now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – was used to optimise the optical features of the fabric.
“The cells we’ll be using are known as fibroblasts and macrophages (white blood cells) that produce hydrogen peroxide in the presence of pathogenic bacteria,” said Roxbury. “If all goes well, we’ll move to ‘in vivo’ testing in mice. At that point, we would find a collaborator who specialises in these animal wound models.
“Testing has focused on small samples, but there really is no limitation in terms of the size. In fact, this technology will be most useful in large bandages which can be more of a nuisance to remove and reapply. Ours won’t need to be removed to enable detection.”
