Wearable biomaterials and Thumbio. Thumbio is part of the Design for tech-pathology project, led by the Hybrid Design Lab of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli" in collaboration with the School of Architecture and Design of the University of Camerino. Here design and science collaborate to develop new product concepts to deal with diseases generated (or worsened) by postural errors due to the prolonged use of portable digital devices such as inflammatory, arthritic and degenerative diseases of the neck, hand, wrist and shoulders. Thumbio is the result of designing both a brace and the material with which it is made. The exhibit shows different samples of materials tested for wearable uses and for such applications and the prototype of a brace made with one of the bioplastics made from starch and buffalo mozzarella liquids and functionalised with vegetable elements, phototherapeutic, antibacterial, anti-pain and anti-

oedema vegetable components for topical use in the form of roots, leaves, fibres or flowers. The brace is intended for therapeutic immobilisations for inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the hand and wrist such as rhizarthrosis, arthrosis, thumb tendinitis and inflammations, Dupuytren's disease, carpal tunnel syndrome and De Quervain's disease, also known as texting thumb disease. The following phototherapeutic ingredients were chosen: mountain arnica flowers, white willow bark and devil's claw root, which have painkilling and anti-oedema effects; bromelain extracted from pineapple, which has protective and soothing effects in case of joint pain and stiffness; chamomile, calendula, witch hazel and mauve selected for their thin-down effects on the skin’s outer layer; hemp fibre, which increases mechanical resistance and is antibacterial; and stevia extract as an antifungal additive.