We got a silver medal in 2024 iGEM Jamboree!
See you next year!
Background
Bacterial skin wound infections are a significant health concern globally, with various studies highlighting their prevalence. For example, a systematic review in 2019 showed that the age-standardized incidence rate for pyoderma was 146.84 million globally, while cellulitis had an incidence of 0.28 million cases. Bacterial skin infections can occur due to minor skin injuries or weakened immune defenses, and in severe cases, they can spread deeper into tissues, causing significant complications.[1]
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Bacteria
In recent decades, due to the overuse of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have emerged. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat, responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributing to 4.95 million deaths[2]. In line with WHO recommendations, Taiwan CDC has also established an Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance System to monitor and combat this growing threat.[3]
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in skin wound infections is a significant challenge in healthcare. Bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other resistant strains can complicate wound healing by making infections difficult to treat.
We try to solve
In Hospital,
the prevalence of wound infections varies, with studies citing nosocomial infections ranging up to 21%.
Those skin infections antibiotics bacteria can transfer through healthcare workers’ hands or medical equipments, which can come into contact with patients. Highly Frequent exposure to bacteria, prolonged hospital stays, and the patient’s weakened immune system, which makes them more vulnerable to those infections and diseases.
In Military
Overcrowded living environments create conditions that promote the spread of infections and hinder recovery process.
On top of that, standard treatments and medical resources may not always be enough and suitable under military settings, as it might affect their ability to conduct military operations. As a result, it is essential to have automated wound treatment options on military roles before implementing them for soldiers’ skin disease care.
Minimize Contact
Auto Drug Release
Monitor Patient Wounds
Auto Detection
Exposure Under High Risk
Auto Detection
Auto Drug Release
Require Faster Recovery
Fast Recovery Using Growth Factor
Our Project
Our project title is “Pandage – A Customized Approach to infection disease control on skin wound healing with probiotics” Since it integrates monitoring, drug delivery, and wound healing promotion. This wearable device will provide real-time monitoring and treatment for patients. Additionally, it will feature a controlled drug delivery system to administer therapeutic agents precisely when needed, thereby optimizing the healing process.
Based on data-driven control systems, Pandage offers an approach optimizing drug delivery for different wound states or users condition as we attempt to provide customized care.
By leveraging bioelectronics and biocompatible materials, Pandage may offer a comprehensive solution for the effective management of skin wounds infected disease.
Solution
Wound Healing Promotion
To heal a wound, Lactococcus Lactis is engineered to productively secrete the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) that facilitates a healing process. From a high level, two types of sequences are inserted into Lactococcus lactis: (1) chaperone-associated sequences that improve the protein folding efficiency and (2) cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-associated sequences that increase secretion of GM-CSF through improving membrane permeability.
Auto Detection
To assess an infection, we propose to utilize a electrochemical biosensor.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an indicator of measuring Gram-negative bacteria, is detected by the associated aptamers that are immobilized. The bandage is further equipped with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module to enable mobile health (mHealth) operation.
Auto Drug Releasing
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small molecules with diverse effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties. These peptides are a key component of innate immunity and are produced by all known organisms, from bacteria to mammals. Unlike antibiotics, AMPs do not trigger mutation-inducing responses, which helps minimize the development of resistance. This makes them a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, especially in combating resistant infections. Drug Releasing Model To achieve the goal of auto drug releasing, we develop a model that can control an automated drug delivery system, utilizing bacterial concentration levels to determine when to release AMP in the hydrogel. When the bacterial count surpasses a certain threshold, the system signals the drug release unit to deliver a dose of medication to the wound site for effective treatment.