Non-invasive bioelectronics is a fast-growing field that utilizes electrical signals for therapeutic effects. One example involves electrodes that interact with or treat the skin directly by guided cell migration during wound healing. These electrode-skin interfaces require improved materials as they should cover a large area (centimeters instead of micrometers), be consumable, cost-effective, and meet strict requirements for low skin-electrode impedance, efficient charge injection characteristics, and electrochemical stability. This project will investigate the combination of cellulose membranes and laser pyrolysis to generate functional carbon-cellulose electrodes and skin-electrode interfaces for wound healing.
The relevance of cellulose and cellulose hydrogels is well-recognized for wound dressings. Thus, the first part of this project will explore methods utilizing cellulose to form support structures for wounds, aiming to identify protocols suitable for bioelectronic wound dressings in terms of mechanical properties and electrical functionalization. Based on our previous work, laser-induced graphene (LIG) will be used to generate functional conducting structures within the cellulose membrane. The compounds will be designed for skin stimulation and biopotential recordings. A wound dressing prototype will be assembled to assess the robustness, long-term stability of the material, and quality of recordings. Finally, a wound dressing with integrated electrodes generating direct current stimulation at skin wounds will be prototyped, and the system will be tested functionally on 3D skin cultures. In addition to LIG, alternative manufacturing methods, such as additive manufacturing and textile production techniques, will be explored.
We expect that combining a cellulose material with hydrogel character for the electrode-skin interface and a conducting polymer hydrogel will effectively address the typical challenges of both dry and wet electrodes. Cellulose-based materials are more economical and sustainable compared to the noble metals typically used for electrodes and are also inherently biocompatible, making them promising candidates for the future of bioelectronics production.