New Delhi: Impaired wound healing can lead to chronic inflammation, increased susceptibility to infection, the development of sepsis, and, in severe cases, death. This poses a substantial global public health challenge, contributing to significant morbidity and healthcare burden.

In response to the escalating prevalence of wounds, researchers at IIT Delhi’s Centre of Biomedical Engineering (CBME) led by Prof. Sachin Kumar B initiated a study to explore methods to improve wound healing by promoting the human body's natural healing process.

Their research has led to the creation of a new sprayable hydrogel system, which they tested in a rat model during the preclinical trials and got encouraging results. 

Like a human body that releases important metal ions namely calcium, copper, and zinc in a certain order at injury sites, this skilfully engineered biocompatible sprayable hydrogel fills the wound and releases these multi-ions from medical grade Polylactic acid (PLA) based micro-carriers in sync with the body's natural process, effectively enhancing the healing process.

These metal ions are the unsung heroes of the natural healing process, fighting infection, reducing inflammation, supporting cell migration, and stimulating new tissue growth.

The preclinical trial results showed that the sprayable hydrogel, on which the IIT Delhi researchers are working, provided faster and more effective healing within in 6 days in comparison to 12 days by similar products available in the market.

“The hydrogel we are working on doesn’t just target bacteria; it also enhances cellular function, reduces oxidative stress, supports immune responses, promotes cell migration, supports collagen production, and even assists in the regeneration of new blood vessels. This all-encompassing approach positions this hydrogel as a potentially transformative tool in wound care,” said Dr. Sachin Kumar B, Assistant Professor, CBME.

Encouraged by the initial results, the researchers have filed for an Indian patent, which has been submitted, further underscoring the potential impact of the sprayable hydrogel they are working on in the wound care area.

“In the future, we also plan to collaborate with clinicians to assess the efficacy of this sprayable hydrogel through human clinical trials,” Dr. Sachin Kumar added.

On this research work, a study titled, “Enhancing Wound Healing With Sprayable Hydrogel Releasing Multi Metallic Ions: Inspired by the Body's Endogenous Healing Mechanism” that was recently published in a highly reputed journal named Advanced Healthcare Materials, which mainly focuses on advanced healthcare systems, marks a promising advancement of this sprayable hydrogel system in wound care technology (Study link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adhm.202402024)

ENDS