Smart Wound Dressing with Real-Time Colorimetric Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Infectious Disease Diagnostics
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research

Background:

• Rising rates of wound infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) necessitate novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
• Traditional antibiotic treatments are increasingly challenged by AMR, demanding advanced solutions.
• Current diagnostic methods for wound infections and AMR are often slow and require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional smart wound dressing for simultaneous infection detection and AMR identification.
• To integrate a chromogenic hydrogel system with an antimicrobial wound-contacting layer.
• To enable real-time, point-of-care (POC) monitoring of wound status.

Main Methods:

• Electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers functionalized with ionic silver and quaternary ammonium moieties for antibacterial activity.
• Incorporation of two chromogenic substrates: chlorophenol red-β-d-galactopyranoside (CPRG) for infection detection and nitrocefin for AMR identification.
• Integration with Internet of Things (IoT) for remote, real-time data transmission and analysis of colorimetric results.

Main Results:

• The smart wound dressing demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against wound pathogens.
• Rapid and precise colorimetric responses were observed for both infection detection and specific AMR identification (β-lactamase).
• The IoT integration allowed for seamless, real-time monitoring of wound infection status by healthcare providers.

Conclusions:

• The developed smart wound dressing offers a promising, equipment-free solution for real-time wound infection and AMR diagnostics.
• This technology can facilitate timely clinical interventions, reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics, and combat the growing threat of AMR.
• The dressing is well-suited for POC applications, particularly in resource-limited settings, improving patient outcomes.