If cooled in a fridge, the dressing expands but shrinks to a smaller size at body temperature, making removal easier and less painful. The thermal responsiveness of the dressing allows it to warm on the skin before gently lowering it to room temperature, enhancing its adherence properties. To make these intelligent dressings, the team opted for a biopolymer material derived from seaweed, a thermally responsive polymer, and cellulose nanocrystals. The intelligent hydrogel dressing provides an alternative, offering a constant drug release outside a clinical setting, enhancing the patient’s comfort during treatment. Traditional chemotherapy often needs hours in a clinic, a process that can be exhausting and uncomfortable for patients. In addition to its applications in burn care, the novel material could revolutionize cancer treatment methods. In fact, the bespoke nature of the dressing makes it particularly effective for treating burns on areas like noses and fingers. The team turned to 3D scanning of the patient’s body parts to ensure that the dressing made good contact with different surface types. It’s a very delicate balance within the material to make the adhesion work.” The material can easily adhere to the skin and be taken off. Zhao elaborated on the unique features of the material: “The fine-tuned surface adhesion is key. The team turned to 3D printing to ensure customizable dressings, allowing for precision-fitted wound dressings that cater to a patient’s specific needs. The newly developed wound dressing, made using advanced polymers, aims to alleviate this suffering and expedite the healing process. The transformative technology results from work done by Boxin Zhao, a professor in Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering, and his team at the Surface Science and Bionanomaterials Laboratory Group.īurn patients often grapple with frequent and painful dressing changes. Made from intelligent hydrogel materials, the dressing promises to alleviate some significant issues in current healthcare practices, particularly for burn and cancer patients. Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed an innovative, customizable wound dressing with potential applications in burn care, cancer treatment, and the cosmetic industry.
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