2023-11-05 09:00:00
Diabetic patients, whose natural healing abilities are compromised, often develop chronic wounds that are slow to heal. These non-healing wounds can cause serious infections leading to painful consequences such as limb amputation.
To meet this global health challenge, a team of researchers from theNational University of Singapore (NUS) has developed an innovative magnetic wound healing gel that promises to accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds, reduce recurrence rates and, therefore, reduce incidents of limb amputations.
Every year, there are between 9.1 and 26.1 million cases of diabetic foot ulcers worldwide, and approximately 15 to 25% of diabetic patients will develop a diabetic foot ulcer during their lifetime. Singapore has one of the highest rates of lower limb amputations due to diabetes in the world, averaging regarding four per day.
Main lessons
A magnetic wound healing gel has been developed by the National University of Singapore. The gel is applied via a pre-loaded dressing and contains skin cells for healing and magnetic particles. A wireless external magnetic device is used to activate skin cells and speed up the wound healing process. Laboratory tests have shown that treatment coupled with magnetic stimulation heals diabetic wounds approximately three times faster than conventional approaches. current conventional methods. Although research has focused on healing diabetic foot ulcers, the technology has the potential to treat a wide range of complex wounds such as burns.
An innovative approach to wound healing
Each treatment involves the application of a dressing preloaded with a hydrogel containing skin cells for healing and magnetic particles. To maximize therapeutic results, a wireless external magnetic device is used to activate skin cells and accelerate the wound healing process.
The ideal duration of magnetic stimulation is approximately one to two hours. Laboratory tests have shown that treatment coupled with magnetic stimulation heals diabetic wounds approximately three times faster than current conventional approaches.
Assistant Professor Andy Tay (center) holds a dressing pre-loaded with magnetic gel, which promises to accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds, while Dr Shou Yufeng (right) holds the magnetic stimulation device. Dr. Le Zhicheng (left) holds a sample of the magnetic gel in liquid form.
Beyond Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Additionally, although research has focused on healing diabetic foot ulcers, the technology has the potential to treat a wide range of complex wounds such as burns.
« Conventional dressings do not play an active role in wound healing said Assistant Professor Andy Tay, who led the team comprising researchers from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the NUS College of Design and Engineering as well as the NUS Institute for Health Innovation and Technology.
The innovative magnetic hydrogel (owned by Professor Tay) contains healing skin cells and magnetic particles, and takes an “all-in-one” approach to wound healing, accelerating the process on multiple fronts.
While magnetic healing gel has shown great promise in improving diabetic wound healing, it might also revolutionize the treatment of other types of complex wounds.
« Magneto-responsive hydrogel, combined with wireless dynamic magnet-induced mechanical stimulation, addresses fundamental challenges of wound healing, such as creating a favorable microenvironment and promoting tissue regeneration said Dr Shou Yufeng, co-author of the research paper and a research fellow at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at NUS College of Design and Engineering.
« These principles and the adaptability of our technology, as well as its general ease of use for patients, mean that it can be applied to improve wound healing in a variety of situations beyond diabetes, including burns and chronic non-diabetic ulcers. »
A global approach to healing
In contrast, the unique NUS invention takes a holistic approach to wound healing, accelerating the process on multiple fronts.
« Our technology addresses several critical factors associated with diabetic wounds, simultaneously managing high glucose levels in the wound area, activating dormant skin cells near the wound, restoring damaged blood vessels, and repairing the disrupted vascular network at the wound. inside the wound “, explained Assistant Professor Tay.
Researchers are currently carrying out further tests to refine the magnetic wound healing gel and improve its effectiveness. They are also collaborating with a clinical partner to test the gel’s effectiveness using diabetic human tissue.
« This is a major advance in the field of active wound treatment said Assistant Professor Tay. “ Our goal is to provide an effective and practical solution for wound healing to improve outcomes for millions of people around the world. »
« Wound healing, especially in the area of diabetic foot ulcers, has always been a challenge. Diabetic patients do not heal as well as normal patients and their healing course is often prolonged “, said Assistant Professor Francis Wong Keng Lin, consultant at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Sengkang General Hospital.
As for Assistant Professor Wong, who was not involved in the study: “ Advances in wound healing technologies will reduce the length of patient journeys and allow them to return to their lives as quickly as possible, improving productivity and quality of life. »
Synthetic
The research was carried out in collaboration with scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Nanyang Technological University, Sun Yat-sen University and theWuhan University of Technology.
Chronic diabetic wounds are a major challenge for global health. Currently, more than half a billion people worldwide are living with diabetes and this number is expected to increase significantly. Chronic diabetic wounds such as foot ulcers (one of the most common and difficult to treat wounds) have therefore become a major challenge to global health.
Traditional treatments for these wounds are often unsatisfactory, leading to recurrent and persistent health problems and – in a large number of cases – limb amputation.
For a better understanding
What is magnetic wound healing gel?
It is an innovation from the National University of Singapore which promises to accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds. The gel is applied via a pre-loaded dressing and contains skin cells for healing and magnetic particles.
A wireless external magnetic device is used to activate skin cells and accelerate the wound healing process. Laboratory tests have shown that treatment coupled with magnetic stimulation heals diabetic wounds approximately three times faster than current conventional approaches.
What types of wounds can the gel treat?
Although research has focused on healing diabetic foot ulcers, the technology has the potential to treat a wide range of complex wounds such as burns.
What is the unique approach to this invention?
The invention of NUS takes a holistic approach to wound healing, accelerating the process on several fronts. It simultaneously manages high glucose levels in the wound area, activates dormant skin cells near the wound, restores damaged blood vessels, and repairs the disrupted vascular network inside the wound.
What are the research results?
The NUS researchers described their innovation in an article published in the scientific journal, Advanced Materials, le 8 septembre 2023. The research was carried out in collaboration with scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Nanyang Technological University, Sun Yat-sen University and Wuhan University of Technology.
Main illustration caption: A bandage preloaded with magnetic hydrogel is placed over the wound and an external device is used to speed up the healing process.
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