Smart Mycelium Wound Dressings with Integrated pH Sensors

Research Abstract

This research covers a new type of wound dressing that combines mycelium (a natural antimicrobial material) with pH sensors, allowing detection of infections in real time without needing any removal. It is fully biodegradable, and would be much cheaper than existing dressings. This study involves growing mycelium, embedding natural pH indicators, testing the prototypes for strength, safety, and responsiveness. Submitted to both the CYM Ottawa Connecting Young Minds conference and the URNCST journal, this work aims to find a sustainable, affordable, and better alternative to current wound related technologies.

Introduction

Wound infections are a significant, global healthcare problem, affecting millions of patients annually and imposing unnecessary economical burdens. Current detection methods typically require dressing removal, which can disrupt the healing process and increase the risk of infection. While mycelium based dressings and pH sensors exist as two separate technologies, they remain expensive, and contribute to medical waste through non-biodegradable materials.

Our approach is the integration of these technologies, addressing the need for affordable, sustainable infection monitoring solutions that can improve wound care management.

Research Hypothesis

We hypothesize that integrating natural pH-responsive indicators with Pleurotus ostreatus (often referred to as the oyster mushroom) mycelium dressings will create the first biodegradable smart wound dressing that enables real-time infection detection at significantly reduced cost, while eliminating medical waste through biodegradability.

Methodology & Scientific Approach

Mycelium Cultivation

Mycelium will be cultivated on optimized substrates including potato dextrose agar and cotton waste under carefully controlled environmental conditions:

• Temperature: 25°C (optimal for Pleurotus ostreatus growth)
• Humidity: 85-95% (maintaining optimal moisture without contamination)
• Sterile Environment: Laminar flow hood with HEPA filtration

Strain Evaluation

Three distinct strains will be systematically evaluated across multiple parameters:

• Growth Rate Analysis: Daily measurements of mycelial expansion
• Mechanical Properties: Tensile strength and flexibility testing
• Antimicrobial Activity: Zone inhibition assays against E. coli and S. aureus

pH Sensor Integration

Natural pH indicators will be derived from anthocyanin extracts obtained from red cabbage through standardized extraction protocols. These indicators will be:

• Microencapsulated: In alginate microspheres (50-100 μm diameter)
• Embedded: During mycelium growth at varying densities (10-30% w/w)
• Optimized: For maximum responsiveness and stability

Prototype Specifications

Dressing prototypes (5×5 cm) will be engineered to meet specific performance criteria:

• Mechanical Strength: >0.5 MPa tensile strength
• Porosity: ~70% for optimal wound drainage and oxygenation
• Biocompatibility: >80% cell viability per ISO 10993-5 standards

Testing & Validation Protocols

Comprehensive testing will validate both safety and efficacy:

• Biocompatibility Assessment: MTT viability assays on human fibroblasts
• pH Responsiveness: Testing with simulated wound exudates (pH 5.5-8.5)
• Colorimetric Analysis: Digital photography and spectrophotometry documentation
• Infection Correlation: Mapping color changes to infection indicators

Expected Results

We anticipate achieving several key milestones that will validate our hypothesis:

• Successful Mycelium Cultivation: Robust growth with measurable antimicrobial activity
• Seamless Sensor Integration: pH indicators embedded without disrupting mycelial growth
• Confirmed Biocompatibility: Meeting or exceeding ISO standards for medical devices
• Responsive Color Changes: Visible transitions correlating with pH changes indicative of infection
• Cost-Effectiveness: Production costs significantly under the $50 USD price for existing smart dressings

Innovation & Impact

This research addresses at least three distinct challenges in modern healthcare:

Environmental Sustainability

Our mycelium-based solution can achieve natural decomposition, unlike conventional smart dressings that contribute to medical waste, allowing it to be completely biodegradable. This reduces the healthcare industry's ecological footprint.

Economic Accessibility

By targeting a production cost significantly under $50 USD per unit, this technology could allow unrestricted access to advanced wound monitoring, particularly benefiting underserved populations and resource-limited healthcare settings.

Clinical Benefits

Real-time infection detection without dressing removal could significantly improve patient outcomes by:

• Enabling earlier intervention and treatment
• Reducing healing disruption from unnecessary dressing changes
• Minimizing healthcare provider exposure to infected wounds
• Providing continuous monitoring capabilities

Conclusion

This research proposal will demonstrate the successful integration of mycelium biomaterials with embedded pH sensors, offering a (1) sustainable, (2) cost-effective alternative to existing smart dressing technologies.

Future Directions

Following successful research proposal and proof-of-concept validation, several research avenues will be pursued:

• Sensor Sensitivity Optimization: Fine-tuning pH response ranges for enhanced specificity
• Animal Model Validation: In vivo testing to confirm safety and efficacy
• Degradation Kinetics Studies: Characterizing biodegradation timelines and byproducts
• Bioactive Compound Integration: Exploring therapeutic enhancements for accelerated healing
• Clinical Trial Preparation: Developing protocols for human testing and regulatory approval

Research Context & Competition

This research was developed for submission to two platforms, or more accurately, one platform that provides the opportunity, if selected, to publish to the other.

CYM Ottawa Conference

The Connecting Young Minds (CYM) Ottawa conference, hosted by cymottawa.com, represents a platform for young researchers in Ottawa, Canada, to present innovative solutions to global challenges. For the 2025 competition, I submitted an anonymous abstract and a URNCST journal submission.

Winners will be selected in early September for a 5-minute presentation at the conference on September 20th, 2025 in Ottawa. This platform provides an opportunity to share groundbreaking research with both young and established researchers. Additionally, top contestants have the opportunity to get published in the URNCST journal.

URNCST Journal

Simultaneously, I submitted an authored abstract to the Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) journal. This submission includes my name as the author and follows a similar timeline, with potential publication if selected.