Dissolving catgut stitches can monitor wounds and deliver drugs

Starting with fibers taken from pig tissue, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed dissolving sutures that can be loaded with molecular sensors or medication. The hope is that the new sutures could speed healing a… Continue reading Dissolving catgut stitches can monitor wounds and deliver drugs

New understanding of “wavy wounds” may make for faster post-op healing

For some time now, it has been observed that wounds with a zig-zag pattern heal faster than those which simply form a straight line. Scientists have now determined why this is the case, and their findings could change the ways in which surgical incisio… Continue reading New understanding of “wavy wounds” may make for faster post-op healing

From hair waste to high-tech: Turning salon scraps into sunscreen

When you think of all the human hair that gets cut off and discarded every day in salons around the world … well, that’s a lot of wasted hair. That said, scientists in India have devised a new technique for extracting compounds from it, for use in prod… Continue reading From hair waste to high-tech: Turning salon scraps into sunscreen

Electrical stimulation heals diabetic wounds three times faster

In diabetics, wounds tend to progress quickly and heal slowly. Researchers have developed a method that uses electricity to heal diabetic wounds three times faster and offers great potential for treating those with diseases that lead to reduced wound h… Continue reading Electrical stimulation heals diabetic wounds three times faster

Injectable synthetic blood clots stop internal bleeding to save lives

Scientists at MIT have developed a synthetic system that can stem internal bleeding, to help more people survive long enough to reach a hospital after a traumatic injury. Two components come together at the wound to form a clot, without doing so elsewh… Continue reading Injectable synthetic blood clots stop internal bleeding to save lives

“Smart” bandage could one day monitor and medicate chronic wounds

If left untreated, chronic wounds such as diabetic skin ulcers can become infected, ultimately leading to amputations or even death. An experimental new “smart” bandage is designed to help keep that from happening, by both watching and treating such in… Continue reading “Smart” bandage could one day monitor and medicate chronic wounds

Electronic bandage speeds wound healing and dissolves into body after use

The days of ripping off a Band-Aid could soon be in the past, with scientists creating a new affordable, flexible electronic covering that not only speeds and wirelessly monitors healing but performs a disappearing act by being harmlessly absorbed into… Continue reading Electronic bandage speeds wound healing and dissolves into body after use

Peptide spray kills bacteria in wounds without using antibiotics

It’s always good if the use of antibiotics can be avoided, to keep harmful bacteria from developing a resistance to them. A new wound-treatment spray could help, as it kills bacteria using peptides that occur naturally in our bodies – no antibiotics re… Continue reading Peptide spray kills bacteria in wounds without using antibiotics

Microneedle patch shown to stop bleeding faster than regular dressings

Skin-applied microneedle patches are already used to painlessly deliver medication and detect chemicals in a patient’s bloodstream. An experimental new one, however, reportedly stops wounds from bleeding much more effectively than traditional bandages…. Continue reading Microneedle patch shown to stop bleeding faster than regular dressings