Navigation Links
Microscopic scaffolding offers a 'simple' solution to treating skin injuries

A revolutionary dissolvable scaffold for growing new areas of skin could provide a safer, more effective way of treating burns, diabetic ulcers and similar injuries.

This ultra-fine, 3-dimensional scaffold, which is made from specially developed polymers, looks similar to tissue paper but has fibres 100 times finer. Before it is placed over a wound, the patient's skin cells (obtained via a biopsy*) are introduced and attach themselves to the scaffold, multiplying until they eventually grow over it. When placed over the wound, the scaffold dissolves harmlessly over 6 to 8 weeks, leaving the patient's skin cells behind.

This new approach to skin reconstruction has been developed by a team of chemists, materials scientists and tissue engineers at the University of Sheffield, with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. It is designed primarily for cases involving extensive burns where surgeons are unable to take enough skin grafts from elsewhere on the body to cover the damaged areas. Currently, bovine collagen** or skin from human donors is used in these cases, but these approaches have potential health and rejection risks.

"Simplicity is the key," says Professor Tony Ryan, who is leading the team. "Previous attempts to find better ways of encouraging skin cell growth have used chemical additives and other elaborate techniques to produce scaffolds, but their success has been limited. We've found that skin cells are actually very 'smart' ?it's in their DNA to sort themselves into the right arrangement. They just need a comparatively uncomplicated scaffold (and each other) to help them grow in a safe, natural way."

The polymers used in the scaffold are biodegradable materials already approved for medical applications. Because the team has recognised that skin cells are 'smart' and the scaffold can therefore be 'dumb' (i.e. not overly sophisticated), simple polymers can be used.


'"/>

Source:Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Microscopic brain imaging in the palm of your hand
2. Microscopic passengers to hitch ride on space shuttle
3. Tiny scaffolding allows stem cells to become working fat cells
4. Bedsores and bald hides: Novel roles revealed for a scaffolding protein
5. Tissue engineered scaffolding allows reproduction of cartilage tissue
6. Protein offers way to stop microscopic parasites in their tracks
7. Gene silencing technique offers new strategy for treating, curing disease
8. Mosaic mouse technique offers a powerful new tool to study diseases and genetics
9. Engineered skin offers clues to melanoma development
10. GM crop that holds on to its seeds offers higher yields
11. Novel enzyme offers new look at gene regulation
Post Your Comments:
(Date:5/19/2013)... study reports that white men and women of European ... valgus) and lesser toe deformities, including hammer or claw ... estimate the heritability of foot disorders in humansappear in ... by Wiley on behalf of the American College of ... many as 60% of older adults have foot disorders ...
(Date:5/18/2013)... today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores new discoveries ... of coffee on autoimmune disease and palliative care for ... been associated with reduced risk of fibrosis, a new ... java each month also correlate with lower risk for ... Clinic, Rochester, MN, linked coffee consumption with reduced risk ...
(Date:5/17/2013)... South, but the night belongs to the amphibians. In ... humidity and the sounds of wildlife. , The Southeast, ... salamanders, is the center of amphibian biodiversity in our nation. ... their symphonic choruses, the scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey,s ... , Amphibians, which rely on water for part ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Blame your parents for bunion woes 2Coffee consumption associated with reduced risk of autoimmune liver disease 2Front-row seats to climate change 2Front-row seats to climate change 3Front-row seats to climate change 4
... soon be able to wear contact lenses that continuously ... changing colours replacing the need to routinely draw ... by Chemical and Biochemical Engineering professor Jin Zhang at ... embedded into the hydrogel lenses. These engineered nanoparticles ...
... the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) enzyme have defects in their ... T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in ... UCLA,s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. The finding could ... body attacks itself, and possibly certain cancers of the ...
... common minerals in biology, including those in bones and shells, have ... making them behave as one giant crystal, even though they do ... grains of salt were spilled on a rug, yet instead of ... rotation. In a new study in the Journal ...
Cached Biology News:Enzyme necessary for development of healthy immune system 2Enzyme necessary for development of healthy immune system 3Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals 2Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals 3
(Date:5/20/2013)... Biomarkers and Clinigene International are set to unveil their ... 2013 AAPS/ National Biotechnology Conference May 20-22 ... Marina , San Diego, CA. ... company representatives at their collaborative seminar, "Biosimilarity, Immunogenicity and ... 1-2 p.m. in the conference,s Spinnaker Room. ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... HILL, N.C. , May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... company focused on developing differentiated antibiotics to meet ... infections, today announced that it presented data at ... in Philadelphia demonstrating the ... levofloxacin in Cempra,s prior Phase 2 clinical trial ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Interventional cardiologist Tony Farah, MD, and his ... Cardiovascular Institute have helped pioneer many breakthroughs in ... over the past three decades, from new disease-fighting medications ... artery stent implantation. , Today, AGH officials announced that ... in the study of a novel, first-of-its kind investigational ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 2013 On 25-28 July, 2013, UPCP ... Paris - the beautiful city of lights. , According ... is revolutionizing the medical world. Understanding and integrating genetic ... hallmark of this transformation. Much of the present medical ... epidemiologic studies of large cohorts that do not take ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Pacific Biomarkers and Clinigene International To Announce Laboratory Solutions for Developers of Biosimilars at 2013 AAPS/ National Biotechnology Conference 2Cempra Presents Post-Phase 2 Analysis of Solithromycin's Efficacy and Safety Results from Patients with Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 2Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 2Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 3Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 4The International Congress on Personalized Medicine - Up Close and Personalized 2013 in Paris 2
... , May 18, 2010 , , ... - With Photo , , , ... safety device is now cleared by FDA for Home/Self use and is,consequently available to all ... dislodgement,during hemodialysis and its use has already improved in-clinic patient,safety. Optimizing safety conditions for home ...
... ... highly specialized metal tubing and innovative suppliers with ultra-fine finishing capabilities , ... (PRWEB) -- The increased miniaturization ... off in many ways. One of the integral items that have helped to ...
... , ... METTLER TOLEDO announced a collaboration to combine their existing technologies to offer flow reactor ... production. , ... (PRWEB) -- ThalesNano and METTLER TOLEDO announced a partnership to offer flow reactor technology ...
Cached Biology Technology:Redsense Medical Receives FDA Clearance for the Redsense Safety Device for Home/Self use During Home Hemodialysis 2Ultra-Fine Metal Tubing Smoothes the Way for Miniaturized Medical Devices 2Ultra-Fine Metal Tubing Smoothes the Way for Miniaturized Medical Devices 3METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 2METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 3METTLER TOLEDO and ThalesNano Bring Real-time Reaction Monitoring to Flow Synthesis 4
...
...
BD BioCoat Laminin 60 mm Culture Dishes, tissue-culture treated polystyrene with a uniform application of mouse laminin....
... BD BioCoat Collagen I 60 mm Culture Dishes ... Dishes, tissue-culture treated polystyrene with a uniform application ... Coating : Collagen I ,Surface : ... 21.3 cm2 ,Dim nominal : 60 ...
Biology Products: