Development of new wound care dressings

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

The prevalence of chronic wounds in humans are increasing with longer life expectancy and increased prevalence of diabetes in the population. Chronic wounds require long periods of treatment and can in worst case lead to amputation due to stalled healing. The impaired healing of chronic wounds is often caused by dysfunctional innate immune cells in the wound bed and an established chronic inflammation. Soluble Beta-Glucan (SBG) is a yeast derived molecule, developed by Biotec Betaglucans AS, that have been shown to stimulate certain innate immune cells and thereby accelerate wound healing. SBG is currently used in Biotec BetaGlucans's product Woulgan Gel®, which is promoting the healing of chronic wounds through a stimulation of the innate immune cells (macrophages) in the wound bed. Many chronic wounds are also both exuding and infected. Biotec therefore aims to develop a new wound dressing that can both stimulate immune cells in the wound bed, absorb excess wound fluid and at the same time combat infection. The goal of this project is to first develop a fibre dressing with SBG that can absorb wound fluid and create a protecting gel covering the wound, and thereafter combine these fibres with antimicrobial components that can combat the infection and reduce problems with biofilm in the wound bed. In this user-driven innovation project, with partners both from industry and academia, the goal is to develop a macrophage stimulating gel-forming dressing as well as a multi-functional dressing with antimicrobial and absorbing capabilities.