Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and the Institute of Nanotechnology and Science (INST) in Mohali have created a revolutionary 'smart patch' that promotes rapid wound healing through natural body movements.
This electronic patch, named '3D-MIDAS', requires no batteries whatsoever. When a person moves or shifts, causing this flexible patch to stretch, it begins to generate electrical signals. Thus, neither external batteries, wires, nor a power source are needed to charge it.
When a wound or injury occurs on the skin, the body's natural electrical signals responsible for cell regeneration are disrupted. This new patch not only securely covers the wound but also restores these natural signals. It is made of very thin fibers and ionically conductive materials. Its mesh structure allows air access to the wound and prevents the pooling of exudates. The patch can stretch approximately eight times its original length, allowing it to easily adapt to the movement of any body part.
The researchers conducted thorough testing of this technology both in laboratory settings and on animals. In Petri dish lab tests, the patch demonstrated a threefold acceleration in cell growth and a 2.5-fold increase in cell mobility compared to control conditions. In rat trials, wounds treated with this patch healed 90–95% within 13–15 days. The scientists noted improved development of new blood vessels, skin tissues, and collagen. When applied to the wounds of freely moving rats, the patch continuously generated electrical signals solely due to their movements, without any external intervention.
The device remained stable and effective even after 500 stretching cycles. During long-term three-month trials, its performance did not decrease. Professor Kaushik Parida, the project lead, stated that his team aimed to create a technology that eliminates the dependence of traditional electronic patches on external power sources. This technology could prove extremely useful in remote rural areas, emergency medical care, and combat zones where battery delivery or charging is impossible.
This prestigious scientific article was published in the globally renowned scientific journal 'Nano Energy'. The research team received support from leading agencies of the Government of India: ANRF, ICMR, DST, and PMRF. However, before it can be made available to ordinary patients in hospitals, human clinical trials are necessary.