A regenerative substance slowly delivered to the wound site by a bandage can expedite the healing process for diabetic foot ulcers, according to new research published in the Journal of Controlled Release.
The thermos-responsive regenerative substance was designed to deliver therapeutic cells and proteins to quicken the body's self-repair abilities by attracting stem cells to the wound and encouraging the creation of new blood cells to increase circulation. The material goes on first as a liquid and then solidifies into a gel and slowly introduces the regenerative proteins to the wound.
Researchers found the application of the regenerative bandage significantly improved the healing process and observed a reduction in the occurrence of harm related to wound redressing. Because the material transforms from liquid to solid, it protects the wound from becoming reinjured during bandage changes.
"The repair process is impaired in people with diabetes," said Guillermo Ameer, professor of biomedical engineering in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and surgery in the Feinberg School of Medicine in Evanston, Ill. "By mimicking the repair process that happens in a healthy body, we have demonstrated a promising new way to treat diabetic wounds."
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