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Flexible pH-Sensing Hydrogel Fibers for Epidermal Applications
Ali Tamayol1,2, Mohsen Akbari1,2,3,4, Yael Zilberman5,6
1Biomaterials Innovation Research Center (BIRC), Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|January 23, 2016
Summary
New pH-responsive hydrogel fibers enable continuous monitoring of skin and wound healing. These flexible fibers, integrated with pH-sensitive dyes, offer a scalable point-of-care system for real-time epidermal condition assessment.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Wound Care Technology
- Point-of-Care Diagnostics
Background:
- Epidermal pH is a critical indicator of skin health and wound status.
- Chronic wounds often exhibit an alkaline environment, hindering healing.
- Continuous pH monitoring is essential for effective wound management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop pH-responsive hydrogel fibers for long-term monitoring of epidermal and wound conditions.
- To create a scalable and adaptable point-of-care system for wound healing assessment.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of pH-responsive dyes into mesoporous microparticles.
- Fabrication of hydrogel fibers using a microfluidic spinning system.
- Characterization of fiber response to varying pH, composition, and thickness.
Main Results:
- Flexible, conformal pH-responsive microfibers were successfully fabricated.
- The technique is scalable for producing clinically relevant hydrogel-based wound dressings.
- Smartphone imaging and image processing enable quantitative, on-site pH mapping.
Conclusions:
- Developed hydrogel fibers offer a promising approach for continuous epidermal pH monitoring.
- The technology facilitates point-of-care wound assessment and management.
- This innovation supports improved strategies for monitoring skin disorders and wound healing.
