Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a magnetic gel-loaded bandage capable of healing diabetic wounds three times faster than current wound treatments.

Because diabetics are prone to developing chronic wounds that are slow to heal, as their natural wound-healing capabilities are compromised, the NUS team has created a gel the promises to expedite healing, reduce wound recurrence and thus lower incidents of limb amputation.

Source: National University of Singapore

According to its developers, the bandage is pre-loaded with a hydrogel that contains a mixture of skin cells for healing along with magnetic particles. Further, a wireless external magnetic device activates the skin cells, thereby accelerating the wound-healing process. The magnetic stimulation, according to the NUS team, should ultimately be applied for one to two hours.

When tested in the lab on burns and diabetic foot ulcers, the researchers determined that the hydrogel wound treatment was three times faster than other wound-healing treatments, which only tend to prevent wounds from worsening.

Further, the new wound technology reportedly manages elevated glucose levels in the wound region, stimulates dormant skin cells surrounding the wound, restores damaged blood cells and repairs the disturbed vascular network within the wound.

An article detailing the new wound treatment, "Mechano-Activated Cell Therapy for Accelerated Diabetic Wound Healing," appears in the journal Advanced Materials.