Dual action electrochemical bandage operated by a programmable multimodal wearable potentiostat

Abstract

We have developed electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) prototypes that generate the reactive oxygen species hypochlorous acid (HOCl) or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for potential use to treat biofilm-infected wounds in humans. We have shown that both e-bandage-generated HOCl and H₂O₂ kill biofilms in vitro and in infected wounds on mice, with the former being more active in vitro. The H₂O₂-generating e-bandage, more so than the HOCl-generating e-bandage, was associated with improved healing of infected wounds. Here, a strategy in which H₂O₂ and HOCl are alternately generated—for dual action—was explored. The goal was to develop a programmable multimodal wearable potentiostat [PMWP] that can generate HOCl or H₂O₂, as needed. An ultralow-power microcontroller unit was developed to manage operation of the PMWP. The system was operated with a 260-mAh capacity coin battery and weighed 4.6 g, making it suitable for future small animal experiments (and ultimately, potential evaluation in humans). As assessed using electrochemical parameters, the device functioned comparably to a commercial benchtop potentiostat. To confirm antimicrobial activity, PMWP-controlled e-bandages were tested in vitro against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium, and Candida auris. When programmed to deliver HOCl followed by H₂O₂, PMWP-controlled e-bandages exhibited activity against biofilms of all study isolates tested. Finally, we demonstrated the PMWP's usability in a murine wound infection model.