with the power to attack infection and inflammation could revolutionise the treatment of chronic wounds such as pressure, diabetic or vascular ulcers that won’t heal on their own.
Developed by the , the novel coating comprises a special antioxidant which can be applied to any wound dressing to simultaneously reduce wound inflammation and break up infection to aid in wound repair.
In Australia, , costing the health system an estimated AUD$3 billion each year. It’s a similar picture around the world with more ; and in the .
With growing rates of global obesity, diabetes and an ageing population, chronic wounds are increasingly affecting large proportions of the general population, yet until this breakthrough discovery, few treatments have shown such positive results.
Lead researcher, , from UniSA STEM, says that upgrading current dressings with this state-of-the-art coating will promote effective healing on chronic wounds and reduce patient suffering.
“Proper care for chronic wounds requires frequent changes of wound dressings but currently, these wound dressings are passive actors in wound management,” Dr Michl says.
“Our novel coatings change this, turning any wound dressing into an active participant in the healing process – not only covering and protecting the wound, but also knocking down excessive inflammation and infection.
“No other method achieves this to date.”
The technology is highly scalable and sustainable, making it a viable option for broad application worldwide.
