Stimuli Responsive Materials for the Rapid Detection and Treatment of Healthcare Associated

Hard-to-heal wounds are a challenge for both patients and doctors. The goal of treatment is to protect from bacterial infections and accelerate healing. Unfortunately, these infections are not rare. Current coatings rely on the slow and passive diffusion of antimicrobials. This means that they may not be sufficiently concentrated to eradicate the infection. To address this challenge, the EU-funded STIMULUS project will create materials that rapidly signal when an infection is present (diagnostics) and trigger the release of antimicrobials to treat the infection (therapeutics). The project will integrate responsive materials into prototype wound dressings. Moreover, it will train early-stage researchers to lead research on theranostic medical devices.