A new type of self-healing bandage may eliminate the need for traditional sutures.
The practice of sewing shut wounds resulting from injury or surgery has existed for millennia. The earliest reports date to 3000 B.C., when ancient Egyptians used sutures on mummified bodies. Over history, needle materials have ranged from bone to metal, and threads have comprised hemp, cotton, animal tendons, and even arteries and nerves.
Today, sutures are still the most common method for closing surgical or traumatic wounds. Modern thread is synthetic, and today’s needles resemble sewing needles, but the methodology remains the same — sutures, also known as stitches, hold body tissues together to promote healing.
While medical sutures are largely successful in healing wounds, they can be invasive and even damage tissue. Moreover, stitches can delay discovery of infection, according to researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and almost 20% of patients in developing countries deal with infections post-surgery. In countries with less medical resources and sanitation, this number is likely higher...
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