Wound healing is a fundamental biological process that most of us take for granted. However, for individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes or for the elderly, the ability of the skin to repair itself is severely compromised. This can lead to persistent wounds that fail to heal, resulting in pain, infection, and a significant burden on healthcare systems. Chronic wounds not only reduce the quality of life for millions of people but also generate substantial costs for medical care, especially in Europe, where aging populations are on the rise.
One of the key factors in wound healing is re-epithelialization—the process by which skin cells migrate to close a wound. Natural skin is more effective than any artificial dressing, making it essential to develop strategies that accelerate this process. Among various approaches, electrical stimulation therapy has shown promise in guiding epithelial cells through electrotaxis, a process where cells move in response to an electric field. Despite a strong body of research supporting this concept, electroactive wound healing therapy is not yet a widely available clinical tool. This gap exists because current technologies face practical and technical limitations that prevent the effective translation of in vitro findings into real-world applications.
Our project set out to bridge this gap by developing a novel technological platform that enables personalized electrotherapy for wound healing. Our innovation is based on delivering precise, controlled direct current stimulation (DCs) through advanced electrode materials, ensuring that the proper dosage reaches the wound at the right time. The ProBER idea originates from breakthrough technology developed in our ERC project SPEEDER, which allows us to translate well-established in vitro data into an effective, scalable, and patient-specific treatment strategy.
In ProBER we focused on three main objectives, which included
• Establishing a measurement, design, fabrication, and monitoring process for personalized bioelectronic therapy.
• Identifying regulatory pathways for clinical adoption under the MDR framework.
• Protecting the intellectual property of our innovation to ensure future development and commercialization.
By addressing a critical unmet need in wound care, our project has the potential to transform treatment strategies for chronic wounds, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare burdens. This innovation marks a significant step toward a future where electrotherapy becomes a mainstream, accessible, and effective tool in the modern treatment for chronic wounds.
