Wearable Sensors for the Detection of Biomarkers for Wound Infection

Abstract

Infection represents a major complication that can affect wound healing in any type of wound, especially in chronic ones. There are currently certain limitations to the methods that are used for establishing a clinical diagnosis of wound infection. Thus, new, rapid and easy-to-use strategies for wound infection diagnosis need to be developed. To this aim, wearable sensors for infection diagnosis have been recently developed. These sensors are incorporated into the wound dressings that are used to treat and protect the wound, and are able to detect certain biomarkers that can be correlated with the presence of wound infection. Among these biomarkers, the most commonly used ones are pH and uric acid, but a plethora of others (lactic acid, oxygenation, inflammatory mediators, bacteria metabolites or bacteria) have also been detected using wearable sensors. In this work, an overview of the main types of wearable sensors for wound infection detection will be provided. These sensors will be divided into electrochemical, colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors and the examples will be presented and discussed comparatively.

Biosensors and Chemical Sensors for Healthcare Monitoring: A Review

“…Since chronic wounds are known to have high uric acid levels that decrease with treatment, continuous measurement of uric acid levels at the wound site allows for continuous monitoring of the healing process [72]. In addition, wounds are known to be affected by pH, and as new tissue is produced by the treatment, the skin shifts from an alkaline to an acidic pH.…”

Non-invasive biomedical sensors for early detection and monitoring of bacterial biofilm growth at the point of care

“…The amperometric sensors rely on the constant potential on the working electrode and measure the current generated by the biomarker's oxidization or reduction reaction. 137,138 In potentiometric sensing, the potential between working and reference electrodes is proportional to the concentration of the biomarker. In square wave voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, generated currents are measured with varying potentials on the working electrode.…”

“…In square wave voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, generated currents are measured with varying potentials on the working electrode. 138,139 The difference between square wave voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry is in the way of potential variation. Square wave voltammetry uses a combination of square wave and staircase potential.…”

Sensing of KCl, NaCl, and Pyocyanin with a MOF-Decorated Electrospun Nitrocellulose Matrix

“…The abundance of biomarkers such as amyloid proteins in these body fluids makes it possible to provide information on a wide range of diseases, but their diversity also makes these body fluids very complex. Other body fluids such as sweat, − breath, , saliva, , or wound exudate , also contain various biomarkers that reflect the health status of the patient and, unlike body fluids like blood or CSF, can be collected noninvasively by wearables such as patch devices, masks, or wound dressings. , Equipped with an active biosensing platform, they can accumulate target analytes and detect changes in the concentrations of metabolites, thereby providing information for early diagnosis of existing diseases or observing the course of the condition.…”