A team of researchers from Purdue University has created a wearable device capable of delivering antibacterial ozone gas to chronic wounds, aiding in their disinfection. This breakthrough technology would allow patients to disinfect their wounds at home, especially in cases where antibiotic therapy is ineffective due to drug-resistant bacteria colonization.

Around 6 million individuals in the United States suffer from chronic wounds, including those with diabetes who develop foot ulcers. These wounds can severely affect quality of life, mobility, and work performance. Unfortunately, many chronic wounds cannot heal due to the presence of drug-resistant bacteria that cannot be eliminated using traditional antibiotics.

Adding to the problem, these drug-resistant bacteria can create a biofilm, which is a slimy aggregation of millions of individual bacteria and a secreted matrix that develops on the surface of chronic wounds. These biofilms serve as a protective barrier for the bacteria, making it even more challenging to eliminate them.

At present, the only option to disinfect the surface of such wounds and increase their chances of healing is to use ozone gas. However, specialized equipment is required to perform such treatment, which means that patients have to visit a hospital or clinic every time they need it.

The Purdue researchers developed a wearable device that generates ozone for patients to disinfect their wounds at home. This is a significant improvement as currently, patients have to visit a hospital or clinic for specialized treatment. Rahim Rahimi, a researcher involved in the study, said, “We created a low-cost wearable patch and accompanying components to deliver ozone therapy” and “a revolutionary type of treatment to kill the bacteria on the surface of the wound or diabetic ulcer and accelerate the healing process.”

The setup comprises a pliable patch that enables the diffusion of ozone gas onto the wound bed. A tube connects the patch to an ozone generator that operates on a battery. When activated, the device emits a continuous flow of ozone gas, which eliminates bacteria on the wound by oxidizing their cells and causing them to rupture. The complete system is compact and reasonably priced.

To get more information about this ozone application, you can read: Wearable and Flexible Ozone Generating System for Treatment of Infected Dermal Wounds