Bioresorbable membrane for wound healing

Fraunhofer researchers in Würzburg have developed a bioresorbable membrane that supports wound healing and completely biodegrades in the body into a natural substance.

The treatment of large and internal wounds is a challenge and can be lengthy. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM, which has a site in Regensburg among others, have now developed a bioresorbable membrane to support wound healing. This membrane dissolves completely in the body after six to eight weeks as the wound heals. In addition, the membrane does not cause any direct damage to the tissue or DNA.

The basis for the innovative membrane is a fibre fleece developed at the Fraunhofer ISC, which is already medically approved for the regeneration of chronic wounds, such as diabetic feet. The researchers were able to reduce the fibre diameter of 50 micrometres by more than 50 times, so that the fibres now have a diameter of less than one micrometre.

»These fibre systems mimic the extracellular matrix, i.e. fibre structures found in connective tissue, in the body and are very well accepted by human cells for regeneration. They do not cause any foreign body reactions or internal scarring. The novel silica gel membrane releases only one degradation product, monosilicic acid, which has a regenerative effect in the body and promotes the closure of wounds," explains Dr Bastian Christ, scientist at the Fraunhofer ISC in Würzburg. Together with his colleagues, he took care of the synthesis and processing of the material.

While the original fibre fleece made of 50 micrometre-thick fibres is inserted into a chronic wound from the outside, the inner fibre fleece is also suitable for internal applications, says Dr Christina Ziemann. She is a scientist at Fraunhofer ITEM and is responsible for the biological evaluation of the material. Filling material used for bone defects in the jaw could theoretically be covered with it in order to accelerate wound healing.

This is just one of many possible applications.

Another advantage of using the membrane is that active ingredients can be integrated into the fibre fleece, which are then released as the material dissolves. During resorption, for example, an antibiotic could be released onto a wound in the body to prevent the formation of bacterial centres," explains Christ. At the Fraunhofer ISC, the BMBF-funded project »GlioGel« is testing whether the Renacer® material platform is suitable as a drug depot for the treatment of brain tumours.

Article from BioM from 09/02/2023