Universities of Glasgow and Southampton Lead Research on Smart Bandages

Scientists develop smart bandages for non-healing wounds.

16:47 01 June 2023

A team of scientists from the UK and France along with the University of Glasgow and the University of Southampton have discovered a new technology that could pave the way for the development of smart bandages for non-healing wounds. 

The smart bandages, which are wirelessly powered and environmentally friendly, are designed to help chronic wounds avoid infections and eliminate the need for antibiotics, which could in turn slow the rise of dangerous strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as superbugs. The bandages could help improve the quality of life for people with non-healing wounds caused by serious medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, and damaged blood vessels, among others. 

Dr Mahmoud Wagih, the co-author of the paper and developer of the smart bandage's wireless power delivery system, said: “Traditional batteries are bulky, inflexible, and need to be changed regularly. That makes them difficult to use in bandages, which need to conform closely to the contours of patients’ bodies to deliver reliable treatment over several hours."

“The system we’ve developed is flexible and can be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of a bandage to power the LEDs, which deliver UV-C light across any surface."

“We believe that smart bandages will be key to future healthcare, but we need to be mindful of their environmental footprint."

“In the UK alone, over 40,000 tonnes of batteries are sold annually and less than half of them are recycled. Our wireless power technology will allow healthcare wearables to grow, sustainably, as an alternative to drug-based treatments."

“We’ll be continuing to collaborate on developing the bandage further to integrate sensors capable of monitoring the progress of wounds, as well as setting out to test the technology in clinical settings in the years to come.”