A multi therapy bioelectronic wound dressing

Chronic and acute skin wounds affect more than six million people in the United States each year. Many heal with basic care, but others do not and become infected, scarred, or chronic. These wounds reduce quality of life and increase healthcare costs. Bioelectronic integrated wound dressings and smart bandages can improve healing by delivering treatments locally and on demand, including electric field therapy and the release of pharmacological compounds. Localized bioelectronic delivery improves healing outcomes and reduces off-target effects. Here, we demonstrate a flexible bioelectronic wound dressing that combines electric field therapy and drug delivery, employing integrated microfluidics to switch between therapeutic modalities. Treatment with the bioelectronic dressing in a pilot porcine wound study showed promising results, including increased wound closure rates, improved tissue maturity, and reduced inflammatory response, compared with standard of care.