ABSTRACT
Reversible adhesives for wound care improve patient experiences by permitting reuse and minimizing further tissue injury. Existing reversible bandages are vulnerable to water and can undergo unwanted deformation during removal and readdressing procedures. Here, a biocompatible, multilayered, reversible wound dressing film that conforms to skin and is waterproof is designed. The inner layer is capable of instant adhesion to various substrates upon activation of the dynamic boronic ester bonds by water; intermediate hydrogel layer and outer silicone backing layer can enhance the dressing's elasticity and load distribution for adhesion, and the silicone outer layer protects the dressing from exposure to water. The adhesive layer is found to be biocompatible with mouse skin. Skin injuries on the mouse skin heal more rapidly with the film compared to no dressing controls. Evaluations of the film on skin of freshly euthanized minipigs corroborate the findings in the mouse model. The film remains attached to skins without delamination despite subjecting to various degrees of deformation. Exposure to water softens the film to allow removal from the skin without pulling any hair off. The multilayered design considers soft mechanics in each layer and will offer new insights to improve wound dressing performance and patient comfort.