Integrated Platforms for Oxygen Delivery and Monitoring in Chronic Wound Healing Therapy

Cel

Chronic wounds associated with diabetes mellitus, such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), are an enormous clinical concern, placing a
significant economic burden on patients and healthcare systems around the globe. Currently, 44–70% of patients with DFUs treated
with current commercial therapies remain unhealed. This can be attributed to factors such as bacterial infections and a limited
oxygen supply, which cause diabetic chronic wounds to often remain in the inflammatory phase for months. Prior research in wound
healing biomaterials has been devoted to improving the functionality, or bioactivity of wound dressings, by enhancing the healing
process and extending the dressing usage time. Addressing diabetic wound healing through such wound healing dressings remains
challenging. In particular, since integrating the need for biomaterials that can reduce oxidative stress, deliver oxygen, stimulate
angiogenesis, and limit pathogen colonization simultaneously. Our proposal, e-OXYGENATE, employs an interdisciplinary approach
across electronics, materials, and their physicochemical and biological properties to develop a multifunctional wound dressing
using Oxygen-generating biomaterials and antimicrobial agents, achieving sustained release for several days to combat wound
infections and overcome hypoxia. In additional, Photobiomodulation (PBM) element will be used to accelerate regeneration, reduce
pain and inflammation. Through a novel, tri-layered electronic patch (e-Patch) consisting of an Oxygen profile monitoring
system, a hydration and mechanical support layer, and a nano-O2 carrier embedded scaffold, we aim to simultaneously treat and
monitor the challenges of bacterial infection while regenerating skin damaged by hypoxia-associated wounds.