Battery-Free and\nMultifunctional Microfluidic Janus\nWound Dressing with Biofluid Management, Multi-Indicator Monitoring,\nand Antibacterial Properties

The sophisticated environment of chronic wounds, characterized\nby prolonged exudation and recurrent bacterial infections, poses significant\nchallenges to wound recovery. Recent advancements in multifunctional\nwound dressings fall short of providing comprehensive, accurate, and\ncomfortable treatment. To address these issues, a battery-free and\nmultifunctional microfluidic Janus wound dressing (MM-JWD) capable\nof three functions, including exudate management, antibacterial properties,\nand multiple indications of wound infection detection, has been developed.\nDuring the treatment, the fully soft microfluidic Janus membrane not\nonly demonstrated stable unidirectional fluid transport capabilities\nunder various skin deformations for a longer period but also provided\nantibacterial effects through surface treatment with chitosan quaternary\nammonium salts and poly(vinyl alcohol). Furthermore, integrating multiple\ncolorimetric sensors within the Janus membrane’s microchannels\nand a dual-layer structure enabled simultaneous monitoring of the\nwound’s pH, uric acid, and temperature. The monitoring was\nfacilitated by smartphone recognition of color changes in the sensors.\nIn vivo and in vitro tests confirmed the exudate management, antibacterial,\nand sensing capabilities of the MM-JWD, proving its efficacy in monitoring\nand promoting the healing of wounds. Overall, this study provides\na valuable method for the design of multifunctional wound dressings\nfor chronic wound care.