Planar flexible electrode for use in wound sterilization

Electrode mediated sterilization in a variety of bacterial cells and aggregates was investigated. Planar gold electrodes were fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate by electroplating gold onto patterned copper clad polyimide. The efficacy of the killing effect mediated by these electrodes upon the application of a constant low amperage current on viable cells, was examined. Tests show that effective electrolysis is achieved with amperages as low as 4μA and the associated sterilization occurs within 20 minutes. The time taken for the sterilization effect to occur is shown to decrease as the amperage is increased. At 100 μA, complete sterilization is achieved after just 10 min, this compares to a sterilization time of 200 minutes at 1μA. The voltages were monitored throughout the duration of each test and showed constant values between 0.8V and 1.3 V. These flexible planar electrodes clearly administer effective sterilization in cultures of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisae, Candida albicans as well as Bacillus subtilis spores. An advantage of these electrodes is that the flexibility of the substrate allows for optimal conformation with the contours of the skin surface as well as a straightforward non-invasive sterilization therapy.