The process of getting treatment for a burn wound is rarely simple or painless. The true hurdle that awaits a burn survivor is the wound healing procedure.
This is because it necessitates frequent dressing changes, which can be extremely uncomfortable.
In order to address this problem as well as others, researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada recently created a novel type of wound dressing material.
According to News Medical, the innovative bandage may hasten the rehabilitation of burn sufferers and may even be used to deliver medications for the treatment of cancer and for cosmetic purposes.
Dr. Boxin Zhao Remarks on Novel Burn Wounds Dressing
Dr. Boxin Zhao, a professor in the university’s Department of Chemical Engineering and the head of the study team, said, “To treat burn sufferers, we can customize the shape using a 3D printer; second, the material has fine-tuned surface consistency, which is a significant property.
The development of intelligent hydrogel materials for use as washable wound dressings has advanced significantly under the direction of Dr. Zhao’s team.
“The material can easily adhere to the skin and be taken off. It’s a very delicate balance within the material to make the adhesion work,” he added.
The study claims that the 3D scan of the patient’s face and other body parts enables the dressing to be customized and personalized for cancer patients and burn victims.
The substance can also be used to treat cancer, preventing a patient from having to spend all day in a clinic. It helps get rid of issues with conventional approaches because it releases medications continuously outside of the clinic setting.
According to the research, these intelligent dressings are constructed of seaweed biopolymer, thermally sensitive polymer, and cellulose nanocrystals.
Due to its thermal sensitivity, the dressing might warm up on the skin before gradually cooling to ambient temperature.
Additionally, the dressing expands in the refrigerator when it is cold but compresses to a smaller size when it reaches body temperature, making removal easier and less painful.
Additionally, time-release medication can be delivered by the clothing, providing more thorough pain relief.
This study serves as proof of concept for Zhao’s Surface Science and Bio-Nanomaterials Laboratory Group.
Zhao’s research group will now continue to improve the properties of the material to make it more advantageous to human health and marketable.
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