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The treatment, developed at the University of South Australia and the University of Sheffield, involves the plasma activation of hydrogel dressings to produce a unique mix of different chemical oxidants, which, when applied to the wound, are effective in decontaminating and aiding healing.
The benefits of cold plasma ionised gas have already been proven in clinical trials, the Sheffield announcement said, showing it controls infection and stimulates healing. This is due to the potent chemical cocktail of oxidants, namely the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) it produces when it mixes and activates the oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air.
The new method could be a “significant advance in tackling antibiotic resistance pathogens and has the potential to change the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and internal wounds”, the announcement said.
Sheffield professor Rob Short, who co-authored the study, said: “More than 540m people are living with diabetes worldwide, of which 30% will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. This is a neglected global pandemic which is set to increase further in the coming years due to a rise in obesity and lack of exercise.
“In England alone, between 60,000 and 75,000 people are being treated for diabetic foot ulcers per week. Infection is one of the major risks. Increasingly, many infections do not respond to normal antibiotic treatment due to resistant bacteria, which results in 7,000 amputations per year. There is an urgent need for innovation in wound management and treatment.”
Dr Endre Szili from the University of South Australia, who led the study, said: “Antibiotics and silver dressings are commonly used to treat chronic wounds, but both have drawbacks.
“Growing resistance to antibiotics is a global challenge and there are also major concerns over silver-induced toxicity. In Europe, silver dressings are being phased out for this reason.”
The international team of scientists showed that plasma-activating hydrogel dressings with RONS makes the gel far more powerful, killing common bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa).
The researchers said that the plasma-activated hydrogels might also help trigger the body’s immune system, which can help fight infections. Although diabetic foot ulcers were the focus of this study, they claimed the technology could be applied to “all chronic wounds and internal infections”.
The work was published in Advanced Functional Materials.
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