Wounds : a patch accelerates healing without a trace

NTU Singapore

Published the 26.09.2017 to 18h55

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Keywords :

cicatrisationcicatricepatch

A wound dressing developed by researchers from the Nanyang technological university (Singapore), would accelerate healing and reduce scarring. Presented in Scientific Reports, this prototype would be a boon to the diabetic patients suffering from wounds difficult to heal or the surgery patients.

The healing process is very complex. It may take several weeks, or even months, because the tissue is damaged, needs rebuild. After a phase of cleaning and destruction of dead cells, the tissue needs to manufacture new collagen fibers and elastin, as well as cells.

To limit the production of collagen

The patch was designed by the team at singaporean stimulates this natural phenomenon thanks to the protein ANGPTL4 present in the gel. In mice, it has been shown that it reduced the inflammation in the early phases of the healing process. This molecule in turn contributes to the repair of the injured tissue by activating the formation of new blood vessels and cell proliferation. At the end of the process, it reduces the scar by controlling the production of collagen.

During their experiences in diabetic mice, the scientists found that healing was 3 times faster with the dressing. They have also noted that the molecule ANGPTL4 prevents the appearance of scars, bulky, hard to the touch and the color pink, red, or dark brown, known as keloids.