The breakthrough could mean faster recovery for patients and is an important first step towards the development of a new type of wound dressing that mimics the body’s natural tissue and which would transform wound care in the UK and around the world.
Over 3 million people in the UK and 20 million globally need treatment for wounds each year. Wound treatment, such as that for acute burns and chronic ulcers experienced by people with diabetes, has remained largely unchanged for decades. In the UK, these limitations in wound care mean that over 40% of leg and foot ulcers remain unhealed after six months with nearly a third persisting beyond a year. Caring for wounds and changing dressings currently takes up a staggering 50% of community nurse time.
Led by researchers at the Â̲èÖ±²¥’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices, the new study reveals, for the first time, that the material composition of wound dressings has a direct influence on the rate of healing, with some material increasing it by up to 75%.
Insights from the latest research from the Â̲èÖ±²¥ will enable a more precise and evidence-based selection of wound dressings by clinicians, reducing the reliance on individual judgment in clinical practice.