Tufts University engineers have developed a ‘smart’ thread that passes diagnostic data to doctors when wounds are sewn up.

In a paper published in Microsystems & Nanoengineerin, the researchers suggest their thread-based diagnostic platform could be the first of a new generation of implantable diagnostic devices and smart wearable systems.

“The ability to suture a thread-based diagnostic device intimately in a tissue or organ environment in three dimensions adds a unique feature that is not available with other flexible diagnostic platforms,” said director of the interdisciplinary Nano Lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University’s School of Engineering, Sameer Sonkusale.

“We think thread-based devices could potentially be used as smart sutures for surgical implants, smart bandages to monitor wound healing, or integrated with textile or fabric as personalized health monitors and point-of-care diagnostics.”

The threads that house the nano-scale sensors, electronics and microfluidics range from simple cotton to sophisticated synthetics.

The threads collect data on tissue health – so things like pressure, stress, strain and temperature – pH and glucose levels, that can be used to determine such things as how a wound is healing, whether infection is emerging or whether the body’s chemistry is out of balance.

This information would then be transmitted wirelessly to a cell phone or a computer where further analysis can take place.

“Thread is abundant, inexpensive, thin and flexible, and can be easily manipulated into complex shapes,” said first author on the paper and former doctoral student at Tufts, Pooria Mostafalu.

“Additionally, analytes can be delivered directly to tissue by using thread’s natural wicking properties.”

While the researchers say that more study into the threads long-term biocompatibility, the initial results suggest the technology will be able to monitor and conform to complex structures such as organs, wounds or orthopedic implants.

Until now, it has only been possible to attach monitoring devices to two-dimensional surfaces, which, in reality, only allows them to be used on flat tissue such as skin.