NUST Institutions Library Catalogue

Wound management has been efficiently handled by the development of a smart
bi-functional real time modular system that combines and synchronizes
quantitative assessment of wound health with wearable drug dispenser for
controlled and desired drug dispensation for specific patient demand. The wound
monitoring system is composed of a biocompatible, planar, point of care and
flexible wearable patch comprising of a pH sensor array that can easily conform
to body contours and efficiently provide a spatial map of pH levels for different
areas of the wound, since variations in pH are indicative of physiological
alteration such as inflammation and tumor growth. The design of pH sensor array
is dependent on electrode density, which is a function of both the optimized size
and separation of electrodes. Based on the final electrode density, an optimized
design of the pH sensor array has been developed, using copper tracts on a
polyimide substrate and a hydrophilic pH responsive hydrogel as the pH sensitive
component. The treatment module comprising of the wearable drug dispenser has
been developed using the concept of an electronically controlled drug delivery
through a haptic vibratory mechanism that is precisely controlled and tuned for
drug release to affected areas. In addition, an environmentally triggered, pH
responsive hydrogel based drug delivery system has also been developed in
tandem, as a comparison with the electronically controlled system. The individual
components of the proposed wound management system have been extensively
tested for physical, chemical and performance related characteristics;
subsequently, the systems have been used in the in-vivo setting to establish a
baseline for future clinical testing and usability. Our observations and results
suggest that the both the diagnostic and treatment components of the wound
management system have the potential to mark an improvement in the current
situation for wound management in hospital settings. The development of this
extensively tested prototype system clears the way for further clinical studies to
be undertaken in this regard.