Antibiofilm Activity of a Tunable Hypochlorous Acid-Generating Electrochemical Bandage Controlled by a Wearable Potentiostat

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.