As American troops withdraw from Iraq and increase in Afghanistan, the estimated cost of war in both countries is more than $1 trillion. Included within this estimate are funds allocated for veteran assistance, foreign aid and medical expenses. By blending past research on inflammation, pain pathways and chemistry, a new study conducted by Dr. Paul Durham, his team of student scientists at the Missouri State University Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences (CBLS), and Crosslink at Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC) may help reduce the medical costs of war through a more effective wound care treatment for soldiers.

“There is a great need for treating the returning soldiers who have been injured during their tour,” said Durham, professor of biology and director of CBLS. “It is important to make sure that the wound heals properly the first time to minimize the chance of infection and long-term disability.”

This collaborative project is the result of a $1.5 million grant CBLS received from Crosslink, a St. Louis-based company that houses some of its research operations at JVIC. The project aims to develop new ways of treating different types of wounds, including incisions, burns, abrasions and punctures. Anti-fungal, antibacterial and pro-healing chemicals will be layered into the fabric of a bandage, where small electrical currents from batteries will trigger the release of those compounds directly to the wound at the best time and in the best amount to facilitate healing.

“We are working side-by-side with Crosslink,” said Durham. “They will do the chemistry part and make the apparatus part—the smart bandage—and then what we do is test to see if it actually works, in what concentration the drug needs to be released and when it needs to be released. It is the synergy between the two camps that makes this model work.”

These new smart bandages will be initially integrated into the long-term care of wounded soldiers. When injured soldiers are transferred to long-term care facilities, these bandages will enable doctors to treat a variety of wounds more quickly and effectively with fewer side effects.

According to Durham, this new wound care method is beneficial from both a medical and patient perspective. “From a patient perspective, if you can get them to heal faster without other side effects and infection, it’s a long-term benefit,” said Durham. “From the healthcare perspective, you don’t spend as much but you get them out sooner and then they are going to have a better quality of life. If the wound heals properly, they are going to be able to resume normal activities.”

By directly applying the medicine to the wound, the new smart bandage will also limit the need for antibiotics and pain medication administered systemically through an IV or pill.

“If we diminish pain and inflammation at the site of the injury, we won’t have the dependency on the morphine or opiate drugs to actually manage their pain,” said Durham. According to Durham, direct application of the medicine will limit some of the side effects from using these medications, such as withdrawal symptoms and the rise of “super bugs.”

In the private sector, the need for better wound treatment methods is high. The smart bandages will help improve post-surgery and post-amputation care and be useful in treating complications from diabetes, a condition on the rise. Today, diabetic lesions are difficult if not impossible to heal. However, Durham is optimistic that the smart bandages might be able to promote healing even in the toughest of conditions.

The wound care research project began in July 2010 and will continue through June 2012. Over those two years, Durham and CBLS will receive more than $1 million in funding to purchase equipment and supplies, hire new full-time employees, and employ several graduate and undergraduate student researchers.

The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, Md. 21702-5014, is the awarding and administering acquisition office for award W81XWH-10-2-0051. The content of this release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government, and no official endorsement should be inferred.