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Biomedical engineers have developed hydrogels that can act as an “injectable bandage,” according to preclinical research published in Acta Biomaterialia.
The team engineered injectable hydrogels that were able to promote hemostasis and facilitate wound healing in vitro.
“Injectable hydrogels are promising materials for achieving hemostasis in case of internal injuries and bleeding, as these biomaterials can be introduced into a wound site using minimally invasive approaches,” said study author Akhilesh K. Gaharwar, PhD, of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
“An ideal injectable bandage should solidify after injection in the wound area and promote a natural clotting cascade. In addition, the injectable bandage should initiate wound healing response after achieving hemostasis.”
To create their injectable hydrogels, Dr Gaharwar and his colleagues used a thickening agent known as kappa-carrageenan, which is obtained from seaweed, as well as clay-based nanoparticles known as nanosilicates.
It is the charged characteristics of the nanosilicates that provide the hydrogels with hemostatic ability, according to the researchers.
Specifically, the team said adding nanosilicates to kappa-carrageenan increases protein adsorption on the hydrogels, which enhances cell adhesion and spreading, increases platelet binding, and reduces blood clotting time.
“Interestingly, we also found that these injectable bandages can show a prolonged release of therapeutics that can be used to heal the wound,” said study author Giriraj Lokhande, a graduate student in Dr Gaharwar’s lab.
“The negative surface charge of nanoparticles enabled electrostatic interactions with therapeutics, thus resulting in the slow release of therapeutics.”
The researchers encapsulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the hydrogels and observed sustained release of VEGF in experiments. The hydrogels containing VEGF promoted faster wound healing than control hydrogels.
The researchers said a “range of therapeutic biomacromolecules” could be delivered in the same way as the VEGF.
Biomedical engineers have developed hydrogels that can act as an “injectable bandage,” according to preclinical research published in Acta Biomaterialia.
The team engineered injectable hydrogels that were able to promote hemostasis and facilitate wound healing in vitro.
“Injectable hydrogels are promising materials for achieving hemostasis in case of internal injuries and bleeding, as these biomaterials can be introduced into a wound site using minimally invasive approaches,” said study author Akhilesh K. Gaharwar, PhD, of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
“An ideal injectable bandage should solidify after injection in the wound area and promote a natural clotting cascade. In addition, the injectable bandage should initiate wound healing response after achieving hemostasis.”
To create their injectable hydrogels, Dr Gaharwar and his colleagues used a thickening agent known as kappa-carrageenan, which is obtained from seaweed, as well as clay-based nanoparticles known as nanosilicates.
It is the charged characteristics of the nanosilicates that provide the hydrogels with hemostatic ability, according to the researchers.
Specifically, the team said adding nanosilicates to kappa-carrageenan increases protein adsorption on the hydrogels, which enhances cell adhesion and spreading, increases platelet binding, and reduces blood clotting time.
“Interestingly, we also found that these injectable bandages can show a prolonged release of therapeutics that can be used to heal the wound,” said study author Giriraj Lokhande, a graduate student in Dr Gaharwar’s lab.
“The negative surface charge of nanoparticles enabled electrostatic interactions with therapeutics, thus resulting in the slow release of therapeutics.”
The researchers encapsulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the hydrogels and observed sustained release of VEGF in experiments. The hydrogels containing VEGF promoted faster wound healing than control hydrogels.
The researchers said a “range of therapeutic biomacromolecules” could be delivered in the same way as the VEGF.
Biomedical engineers have developed hydrogels that can act as an “injectable bandage,” according to preclinical research published in Acta Biomaterialia.
The team engineered injectable hydrogels that were able to promote hemostasis and facilitate wound healing in vitro.
“Injectable hydrogels are promising materials for achieving hemostasis in case of internal injuries and bleeding, as these biomaterials can be introduced into a wound site using minimally invasive approaches,” said study author Akhilesh K. Gaharwar, PhD, of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
“An ideal injectable bandage should solidify after injection in the wound area and promote a natural clotting cascade. In addition, the injectable bandage should initiate wound healing response after achieving hemostasis.”
To create their injectable hydrogels, Dr Gaharwar and his colleagues used a thickening agent known as kappa-carrageenan, which is obtained from seaweed, as well as clay-based nanoparticles known as nanosilicates.
It is the charged characteristics of the nanosilicates that provide the hydrogels with hemostatic ability, according to the researchers.
Specifically, the team said adding nanosilicates to kappa-carrageenan increases protein adsorption on the hydrogels, which enhances cell adhesion and spreading, increases platelet binding, and reduces blood clotting time.
“Interestingly, we also found that these injectable bandages can show a prolonged release of therapeutics that can be used to heal the wound,” said study author Giriraj Lokhande, a graduate student in Dr Gaharwar’s lab.
“The negative surface charge of nanoparticles enabled electrostatic interactions with therapeutics, thus resulting in the slow release of therapeutics.”
The researchers encapsulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the hydrogels and observed sustained release of VEGF in experiments. The hydrogels containing VEGF promoted faster wound healing than control hydrogels.
The researchers said a “range of therapeutic biomacromolecules” could be delivered in the same way as the VEGF.