Case Study

A wound dressing impregnated with collagen fibres is to undergo preliminary testing in patients, following successful in vivo trials.

The dressing is more absorbent than currently available products and can accelerate healing in chronic wounds.

An IKC proof of concept grant enabled researchers to prove the safety, reproducibility and long-lasting stability of the material in vitro before testing it in diabetic mice. Their results showed wounds treated with the collagen dressing healed completely after 20 days, while untreated wounds were only 40 per cent healed.

The team, based at the University of Leeds, also confirmed that the collagen can absorb enzymes released as part of the body’s first response to wound healing. These enzymes can aggravate chronic wounds and prolong the healing process.

Dr Giuseppe Tronci, lecturer in healthcare materials at Leeds School of Design, says: “The NHS treats more than two million wounds each year, many of which require multiple visits to the clinic. A solution that can heal wounds faster has clear benefits for patients and healthcare services.” A first-in-human trial is planned in Leeds, to investigate the safety and acceptability of the materials in patients with ulcers on their fingers, ahead of a full clinical trial.

The team has also confirmed the GMPcompliant manufacture of medical grade prototypes with an industrial partner and has secured an MRC CiC award to explore using the technology in guided bone regeneration in dentistry.