As more and more surgical procedures are performed in the United States, the number of surgical site infections is also on the rise.Chronic wounds that do not heal — such as those that occur in diabetes — often host a wide range of bacteria in the form of a biofilm.Medical Wound Dressing
Such biofilm bacteria are often very resilient to treatment, and antimicrobial resistance only increases the possibility that these wounds become infected.According to recent estimates, chronic wounds affect approximately 5.7 million people in the U.S. Some chronic wounds can result in amputations, as is the case with diabetic ulcers.
On a global level, researchers approximate that every 30 seconds a chronic, nonhealing diabetic ulcer causes an amputation.In this context, there is a dire need for innovative, effective wound healing methods. New research shows promise in this regard, as scientists have devised a molecule that helps harness the body's natural healing powers.
The molecules are called traction force-activated payloads (TrAPs).
They are growth factors that help materials such as collagen interact
with the body's tissues more naturally.Ben Almquist, Ph.D., a lecturer
in the department of engineering at Imperial College London in the
United Kingdom, led the new research.
Materials such as collagen are
often used in wound healing. For instance, collagen sponges can treat
burn injuries, and collagen implants can help bones regenerate.
But how does collagen interact with tissue? In so-called scaffold implants, cells move through the collagen structure, pulling the scaffold along with them. This triggers healing proteins, such as growth factors, that help the tissue regenerate.
In the new study, Almquist and the team engineered TrAP molecules to recreate this natural process. The scientists "folded" DNA strands into aptamers, which are three-dimensional shapes that bind to proteins.The scientists explain that this technique recreates healing processes that exist throughout the natural world. "Using cell movement to activate healing is found in creatures ranging from sea sponges to humans," says Almquist.
"Our approach mimics them and actively works with the different varieties of cells that arrive in our damaged tissue over time to promote healing," he adds.
