Oxygen-Generating and Free Radical Scavenging Wound Dressing

Stimulates Tissue Repair by Providing Sustained Release of Oxygen and Combating Oxidative Damage

This oxygen-generating and free radical scavenging biomaterial facilitates chronic wound healing, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This direct oxygen supply promotes cell growth and tissue repair, as well as neutralizes harmful free radicals, accelerating the healing process. The prevalence of diabetes has quadrupled in the last 30 years, affecting 1 out of 11 people worldwide. About 15% of diabetic patients develop diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), chronic open wounds commonly located on the bottom of the feet or toes. DFUs are hard to treat, often exhibiting oxidative and noxious environments unsupportive of pro-healing factors. They pose a significant health threat to millions of people in the world, with the potential for severe complications, including amputation, indicating an increasing need for effective wound healing solutions. While various procedures are available to aid in wound healing, their effectiveness, particularly for chronic wounds, is limited.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a wound dressing using oxygen-generating and free radical scavenging biomaterials to accelerate wound healing, particularly for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). By providing the dual benefits of tailored and localized oxygen delivery and scavenging of radical oxygen species (ROS), a detrimental byproduct of wound healing, the wound dressing can transform the treatment of chronic wounds, improving the lives of millions of people.

Application

Wound dressing incorporates oxygen-generating and free radical-scavenging biomaterials to accelerate wound healing

Advantages

• The biomaterial provides oxygenation and free radical scavenging, contributing to wound healing through cellular remodeling of the skin and modulation of oxidative damage and inflammation
• The biomaterial can supply oxygen for up to 15 days, eliminating the need for frequent dressing changes
• The biomaterial modulates the steady release of oxygen and redox reaction over an extended period, providing tailored and sustained pro-healing properties
• The biomaterial has flexible layers of the wound healing dressings, enabling easy application and conforming to various wound sizes

Technology

This wound-healing dressing involves an oxygen-generating and free radical scavenging biomaterial providing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-healing benefits to wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, over extended periods. The dressing comprises an oxygen-generating composite material, including a peroxide material able to produce oxygen by reacting with water. The steady release of oxygen supports cellular remodeling of the skin and aids in wound healing. The dressing further incorporates nanometer-sized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) with oxidant scavenging properties dispersed within a layer of the oxygen-generating biomaterial. This enables the removal of harmful free radicals in the wound site to modulate the immune cell environment from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state. Additionally, the cerium oxide nanoparticle material can incorporate alginate as a layering material to achieve controllable coating uniformity and thickness.