Electroceutical insights could lead to better bandages for chronic wounds

Now, a study by a team at The Ohio State University (OSU) is offering new clues about the science behind those bandages, and researchers say the findings could help lead to better wound treatment. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports.

According to OSU, the study is the first of its kind to look at the ways electroceutical bandages kill bacteria around a wound, allowing wounds to heal faster.

"The goal is to heal non-healing or chronic wounds, and, if infection is present, to remove infection," said Shaurya Prakash, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and co-author of the study. "And what we wanted to understand was the mechanism behind why these electroceutical treatments work to kill bacteria."

Biofilms are small communities of microorganisms - including bacteria - that can live on the surface of the skin or a wound. The communities are held together by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The substances are generally made up of fats and proteins and can create a protective barrier that protects bacteria from treatments including antibiotics.