Antibiofilm Activity of a Tunable Hypochlorous Acid‐Generating Electrochemical Bandage Controlled by a Wearable Potentiostat
Abdelrhman Mohamed, Yash S. Raval, Suzanne Gelston, Gretchen Tibbits, Suat U. Ay, Laure Flurin, Kerryl E. Greenwood‐Quaintance, Robin Patel, Haluk Beyenal
Abstract
Chronic wound biofilm infections represent a major clinical challenge which results in a substantial burden to patients and healthcare systems. Treatment with topical antibiotics is oftentimes ineffective as a result of antibiotic‐resistant microorganisms and biofilm‐specific antibiotic tolerance. Use of biocides such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) has gained increasing attention due to the lack of known resistance mechanisms. An HOCl‐generating electrochemical bandage (e‐bandage) is designed that delivers HOCl continuously at low concentrations targeting infected wound beds in a similar manner to adhesive antimicrobial wound dressings. A battery‐operated wearable potentiostat is developed that controls the e‐bandage electrodes at potentials suitable for HOCl generation. It is demonstrated that e‐bandage treatment is tunable by changing the applied potential. HOCl generation on electrode surfaces is verified using microelectrodes. The developed e‐bandage shows time‐dependent responses against in vitro Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, reducing viable cells to nondetectable levels within 6 and 12 h of treatment, respectively. The developed e‐bandage should be further evaluated as an alternative to topical antibiotics to treat wound biofilm infections.