ABSTRACT

Despite major advances in wound care, approximately 15% of wounds become chronic, resulting in significant healthcare costs and prolonged patient morbidity. This research presents a wearable magneto-mechanical actuation system designed to accelerate healing through combined magnetic and acoustic stimulation. Magnetic microparticles embedded in conformable wound dressings generate localized forces when exposed to external magnetic fields, while simultaneous low-frequency acoustic waves promote fibroblast migration, proliferation, and morphological adaptation. Acoustic stimulation enhances healing via increased cellular proliferation, improved local perfusion, enhanced collagen deposition, and reduced bacterial load. Low-frequency magnetic fields similarly modulate fibroblast behavior, supporting tissue regeneration. This work seeks to identify optimal actuation parameters for the synergistic application of both stimuli, with the goal of reducing wound closure time in clinical or at-home settings.

BIOGRAPHY

Daniel Kuratomi is a PhD student at the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University where he is advised by Dr. Ramses V. Martinez (FlexiLab). He received his BSc. in Biomedical and Electronics engineering from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia and his MSc. in Biomedical Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His research is focused on biomedical sensors and wearable devices, and he is also interested in regulatory affairs and technology transfer.