Reports

Programmable 3D printed wound dressing could improve treatment for burn, cancer patients: Study

• By Newsdesk
• Jun 08, 2023

Reports

The frequency of dressing changes can be extremely painful and is one of the biggest challenges in treating burn victims.

To address this and other issues, University of Waterloo researchers developed a new type of wound dressing material based on advanced polymers. This new dressing has the potential to improve the healing process for burn patients as well as for drug delivery in cancer treatment and the cosmetic industry.

"We can customise the shape using a 3D printer to treat burn victims, and the material has fine-tuned surface adhesion, which is a key feature," said Dr. Boxin Zhao, a professor in Waterloo's Department of Chemical Engineering, whose team has made significant strides in developing intelligent hydrogel materials for use as reusable wound dressing. "The material is easily adhered to and removed from the skin." Making the adhesion work requires a very delicate balance within the material."

The material can also be used to treat cancer. Traditional chemotherapy treatment may require a patient to spend hours in a clinic, which can be exhausting and uncomfortable. This dressing can provide continuous drug release outside of the clinic setting, removing some of the difficulties associated with traditional methods.

These smart dressings are made with a biopolymer derived from seaweed, a thermally responsive polymer, and cellulose nanocrystals. The thermal responsiveness of the dressing allows it to warm on the skin before gradually cooling to room temperature. Furthermore, when chilled in the refrigerator, the dressing expands but shrinks to a smaller size at body temperature, making removal easier and less painful. Furthermore, the dressing is intended to deliver time-release medication, allowing for longer-lasting pain relief.

The Journal of Colloids and Interfacial Science recently published a study highlighting the team's progress.