Innovative Wound Dressing Manages Inflammation and Promotes Healing

Chronic wounds pose a significant healthcare challenge worldwide, often leading to long-lasting open skin lesions that resist healing and incur substantial medical costs annually. Researchers at ETH Zurich, led by doctoral researcher Börte Emiroglu, have developed an advanced, intelligent wound dressing designed to actively reduce inflammation and support tissue regeneration. This innovative dressing is based on a granular hydrogel composed of microgel particles that can selectively capture inflammatory signals and release healing-promoting molecules.

The core of this technology is a sponge-like hydrogel capable of distinguishing between harmful pro-inflammatory signals and beneficial ones, thanks to surface molecules known as ligands attached to microgels. These ligands enable the dressing to target and absorb specific cytokines responsible for perpetuating inflammation, thereby steering the wound environment toward healing.

Inspired by natural biological processes, Emiroglu explains that short-distance mass transport efficiency in unicellular organisms influenced the design. By incorporating a library of building blocks—microgels with adaptable surface properties—the dressing can be customized for various types of tissue damage and patient-specific needs, including internal tissues like bones, cartilage, and tendons which often have limited blood supply.

The technology not only differentiates itself from conventional dressings that dry out wounds but also actively intervenes at the molecular level to resolve inflammation early, facilitating faster recovery. While initial applications focus on chronic skin wounds, the researchers envision broader uses across regenerative medicine.

The development process involves a comprehensive approach to transforming laboratory research into market-ready solutions by engaging with healthcare professionals and understanding clinical requirements. Emiroglu emphasizes that their goal is to produce long-term, effective products rather than rushing to commercialization.

Published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, this research represents a promising step toward smarter, more targeted wound care solutions that could revolutionize how chronic and internal tissue wounds are treated in the future.