Wounds in individuals with diabetes and the elderly can linger unhealed for months. A novel technology proposed by American scientists offers a way to speed up their healing without requiring intricate procedures.
Wounds that do not close beyond a month are classified as chronic. These issues are becoming increasingly prevalent due to population aging and the rising incidence of diabetes. Globally, it’s estimated that approximately 12 million people contend with such problems annually, with one in five facing the risk of limb loss as a consequence.
A team of bioengineers at the University of California, Riverside has engineered a gentle, oxygen-generating hydrogel designed to supply oxygen directly into chronic wounds, as oxygen deprivation sustains ongoing inflammation. Under these conditions, cells are starved of the energy required for repair, blood vessel growth is hindered, and bacteria find this environment conducive to proliferation. The ultimate outcome is tissue degradation outpacing tissue regeneration.
This gel operates much like a simple electrochemical setup. Its core components are water and a choline-based fluid – a substance deemed safe for the body and possessing antibacterial attributes. Coupled with a small battery, similar to those powering hearing aids, the material facilitates the splitting of water, which continuously releases oxygen. This flow remains consistent for up to a month without any further intervention.
The material precisely conforms to the wound’s shape, filling fissures and depressions where oxygen deprivation is most severe. Unlike conventional dressings that only work superficially, this hydrogel transports oxygen directly into the most compromised areas of the tissue.
Trials conducted on aged and diabetic mice demonstrated a notable impact. Unmanaged wounds failed to close, frequently resulting in the animals’ demise. When treated with the oxygen-releasing dressing, the lesions healed within 23 days, and the rodents survived.
Choline also provides an ancillary benefit: it moderates excessive immune system activity and lessens the concentration of aggressive molecules that damage cells and perpetuate inflammation. Consequently, the tissue environment shifts toward conditions more closely resembling natural healing.
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