Electrochemical Therapy for Scar Treatments (Resubmission)

Project Summary Hypertrophic scarring (HTS) leads to severe disfigurement and loss of function in deep partial thickness burn injuries with occurrence following burn injuries ranging from 33 to 91%. HTS can occur with any cutaneous injury and is associated with injuries that take longer than 2-3 weeks to heal and is characterized by thickened, wide, and raised scars due to abnormally excessive collagen growth. If scars are located near joints, they could lead to decreased mobility due to skin contractures. To address this need, we are developing a low-cost electrochemical therapy for skin based on redox chemistry. By producing acid/base within tissue with microneedle-electrodes, the ECT may soften the thickened collagen tissues and low-grade cellular death to trigger the regeneration of normal rather than aberrant collagen structure. If ECT is effective, its practical advantages are low-cost, simple use, and point of care delivery with relatively low risks. We hypothesize that the ECT can create ‘controlled’ injuries that remodel damaged tissue/collagen and thus replace hypertrophic scars. The goal of our proposed work is to establish the feasibility of ECT as a scar reduction tool. First, we will fabricate and optimize a custom ECT control unit with capability of potential driven electrochemistry. Second, we will identify safe and efficient dosimetry with ex vivo porcine specimens. Last, we will apply the safety dose range ECT to in vivo hypertrophic scar model.