Biodegradable medical bandages
Russian scientists have created anti-burn bandages that do not need to be removed
The team of young scientists of NUST MISIS for the first time in Russia has presented a new therapeutic material based on nanofibers made of polycaprolactone modified with a thin film with an antibacterial composition and components of human blood plasma. Biodegradable dressings made of such fibers double the growth of tissue cells, which contributes to the normal regeneration of damaged tissues, and also prevent the formation of scars in severe burns.
In regenerative medicine, in particular, in the treatment of burns, one of the main tasks is the effective restoration of damaged skin tissues and the prevention of scarring. Scars are formed every time the skin is exposed to a strong impact that is not limited to the outer layer of the skin, whether it is a cut, burn, skin disease such as acne or fungal infection.
Scar tissue consists mainly of unidirectional collagen and differs significantly from the tissues it replaces by reduced functional properties. For example, scars on the skin are more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, are not elastic, sweat glands and hair follicles are not restored in them. Employees of the laboratory "Inorganic Nanomaterials" of NUST MISIS joined in solving the problem of scar formation, who managed to create multilayer "bandages" from biodegradable polycaprolactone fibers and multifunctional bioactive nanofilms with specified mechanical properties and high biocompatibility. The addition of an antibacterial effect by the introduction of silver nanoparticles or the addition of an antibiotic, as well as an increase in bioactivity due to the application of hydrophilic groups (-COOH) and plasma proteins to the surface provided the material with unique healing properties.
When applying a bandage made of the developed material to the injured area, there is a significant acceleration of the healing process, successful regeneration of normal skin integumentary tissues and prevention of scar formation at the site of the burned or damaged fragment. Antibacterial components of multifunctional nanofibers reduce inflammation, and blood plasma with an increased content of platelets – the most important and universal element for all in the healing process – stimulates the process of tissue regeneration. The bandage does not need to be removed and changed during treatment, causing additional pain to the patient. After a certain period of time, the biodegradable fiber simply "dissolves" in the body without side effect.
"Using chemical bonds, we managed to create a stable layer containing blood plasma components (growth factors, fibrinogens and other important proteins that promote cell growth) on a polycaprolactone substrate.
The base fibers were synthesized by electroforming, – says one of the project participants, graduate student of the laboratory Elizaveta Permyakova. – Then, using plasma treatment, a polymer layer containing carboxyl groups was applied to the surface in order to increase the hydrophilic properties of the material. The resulting layer was enriched with antibacterial and protein components."
At the moment, the development team has already conducted a series of preclinical tests together with the Research Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine in Novosibirsk. The in vitro results showed that with the use of innovative dressings, the process of cell regeneration accelerated twice.
In the near future, the team expects the results of testing the drug in vivo.
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