Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42416535›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2026

Germanium-embedded bioactive fabric reduces bacterial bioburden and modulates fibroblast and macrophage behavior

Nicholas J Tucker, Lyndah Chow, Peter Linde, Gina Myers, Steven Dow, Nicholas A Alfonso, Lynn M Pezzanite

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nicholas J TuckerDepartment of Orthopedics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.
Lyndah ChowDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Orthopedic Research Center, Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
Peter LindeDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Orthopedic Research Center, Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
Gina MyersIncrediwear Holdings, Inc., Chico, CA, United States.
Steven DowImmunotherapy Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Translational Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
Nicholas A AlfonsoDepartment of Orthopedics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.
Lynn M PezzaniteDepartment of Orthopedics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) occur in 2%-4% of all surgical cases. Wearable bioactive fabrics (BAFs) containing semiconductor germanium are reported to promote microcirculation, enhance immunity, and increase antibacterial activity, with the potential to improve outcomes in SSIs. While BAFs are proposed to exert their effects through the generation of negative ions and the emission of far-infrared radiation, their mechanism of action has not been fully explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of BAFs on bacterial bioburden, fibroblast migration and proliferation, and inflammation modulation in the context of SSIs. Methods: Utilizing an Results: BAF exposure reduced Discussion: Exposure to BAFs exhibited direct and indirect bactericidal effects, enhanced fibroblast migration, reduced fibroblast proliferation, increased immunomodulatory cytokine secretion, and altered macrophage gene expression in ways that may positively impact wound healing. BAFs warrant further

Indexed as

bioactive fabricgermaniumgermanium embedded fabricinfectionsurgical site infection

Identifiers

PMID42416535
PMCPMC13338619

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.