An invention from Dresden to heal open wounds

Dresden. Ten years of research have now produced a medical product that can prevent a great deal of suffering. A completely new wound dressing has the potential to close chronic open wounds. Scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (IPF) in Dresden are entering the first clinics with this globally new medical product. The clinical trial begins in September. IPF Institute Director Carsten Werner and Research Group Leader Uwe Freudenberg report this to the SZ.

They both made the basic invention. Later, entire teams worked on it. In the animal trials conducted before the clinic, this wound dressing was extremely successful, says Carsten Werner. Wound healing was 50 per cent faster than with standard therapies. Laboratory tests with human wound secretions were also successful. The goal now and the most important criterion is that the otherwise open wounds also heal in the same way in patients.

This could significantly reduce a huge problem in clinics and care. Because unlike all other wound dressings to date, the Dresden researchers are tackling the causes.

Immune cells send signalling molecules from the wound into the body and thus call for more and more immune cells. This is important at first in order to clean the wound and rid it of bacteria. But this process normally ends after a while. If not, the immune cells then eat away at healthy tissue themselves. With sometimes dramatic consequences, including amputations.

The innovative Dresden wound dressing Rescure uses physical tricks to capture the signalling molecules that call up a large number of immune cells. These signalling molecules are captured in a coated textile grid. The inflammation stops and healing can begin.

For the clinical study, several thousand wound dressings will be produced in the institute's own clean room. The study should be completed by the end of 2024. 108 patients are involved, and Dresden is also planned, says Freudenberg. The establishment of Rescure as a company in Saxony is planned for early 2025.

The spin-off and the clinical study are being funded with 1.5 million euros via Exist from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWK). However, Freudenberg says that up to another five million euros in start-up capital will be needed to found the company and prepare for mass production. He is also hoping for Saxony.

If everything goes well, the new wound dressing could be used in Germany as early as 2025. Then in Europe, and finally in the USA and Asia. Basic patents have been filed worldwide. Supplements to the technology were also submitted last week.

News of the "Sächsische SZ" from 10 July 2023