Northwestern University researchers created a bandage that delivers electrotherapy directly to the wound site, speeding up the healing of diabetic ulcers by 30%. The flexible and stretchable bandage actively monitors the healing process and then dissolves into the body, electrodes and all, when no longer required. The new device could be a powerful tool for diabetic patients whose ulcers can lead to a variety of complications, including amputation of limbs or even death.

The study was published in the journal Science Advances, and it is the first example of a smart regenerative system as well as the first bioresorbable bandage capable of delivering electrotherapy. Diabetes affects nearly 30 million people in the United States, with 15 to 25% developing a diabetic foot ulcer at some point in their lives.

Diabetes can cause nerve damage, resulting in numbness, so diabetics may experience a simple blister or small scratch that goes unnoticed and untreated. The bandage could be a cost-effective solution for diabetic patients who need long-term care for chronic wounds.

Source: Northwestern University (link)
Images: MidJourney, Prompts by Lewis Farrell

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