Hydrogen peroxide-producing electrochemical bandage controlled by a wearable potentiostat for treatment of wound infections

Chronic wound infections caused by biofilm-forming microorganisms represent a major burden to healthcare systems. Treatment of chronic wound infections using conventional antibiotics is often ineffective due to the presence of bacteria with acquired antibiotic resistance and biofilm-associated antibiotic tolerance. We previously developed an electrochemical scaffold that generates hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) at low concentrations in the vicinity of biofilms. The goal of this study was to transition our electrochemical scaffold into an H₂O₂-generating electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) that can be used in vivo. The developed e-bandage uses a xanthan gum-based hydrogel to maintain electrolytic conductivity between e-bandage electrodes and biofilms. The e-bandage is controlled using a lightweight, battery-powered wearable potentiostat suitable for use in animal experiments. We show that e-bandage treatment reduced colony-forming units of Acinetobacter buamannii biofilms (treatment vs. control) in 12 h (7.32 ± 1.70 vs. 9.73 ± 0.09 log₁₀[CFU/cm²]) and 24 h (4.10 ± 12.64 vs. 9.78 ± 0.08 log₁₀[CFU/cm²]) treatments, with 48 h treatment reducing viable cells below the limit of detection of quantitative and broth cultures. The developed H₂O₂-generating e-bandage was effective against in vitro A. baumannii biofilms and should be further evaluated and developed as a potential alternative to topical antibiotic treatment of wound infections.