| Posted: April 23, 2007 |
Nanotechnology wound care |
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(Nanowerk News) A presentation last week at the Society for Biomaterials 2007 Annual Meeting and Exposition, titled "Immediate Shape-Retentive Wound Dressings Formed In Situ Using Hydrogel Nanoparticle Powders," is the first scientific presentation of a new nanotechnology-based wound care material.
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The presentation initially focused on the methods for the synthesis, purification and the physical properties of the material. Wound healing data, in porcine full-thickness wounds and skin graft donor site models, also presented demonstrating the superiority of the nanoparticle aggregate dressing, compared with a leading commercial product, to accelerate wound healing.
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Results presented by Dr. St. John, Vice President of Material Science at Uluru Inc., and a co-inventor of the technology, demonstrated the ability to control the release of drugs and proteins from the nanoparticle dressing for a period of time in excess of 30 days. This unique property of the nanoparticle aggregate wound dressing offers the exciting opportunity of controlling the release of growth factors and other actives to accelerate wound healing.
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A summary of the attributes of the nanoparticle aggregate technology included:
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Forms a film in situ sealing the wound and allowing conformation toirregular wound surfaces; Adheres to the wound but does not harm the healing tissue; The dressing is moisture vapor and oxygen permeable; Substantially decreases the need for multiple dressing changes; Active healing agents can be trapped between the nanoparticles to control the release of these actives to promote wound healing.
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Commenting on this presentation Dr. Spencer A. Brown, Director of Research, Plastic Surgery Department University of Texas Southwestern Medical center of Dallas, a co-author of the paper, stated, "At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center we have extensively evaluated this material both as a non-medicated dressing and an advanced wound dressing incorporating a variety of actives including numerous growth factors. The results achieved to date are very impressive in all the model systems we have evaluated. We believe that this material offers great promise to significantly advance the treatment of wounds and not only accelerate the wound healing process but also reduce the nursing burden and cost of patient care."
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