Thermogels to the rescue

20 August 2018

In a recent publication in Biomaterials, a multidisciplinary team from Radboudumc (Dentistry; theme Reconstructive and regenerative medicine), Radboud University (Molecular Materials), and the Association of Dutch Burn Centres present their first results with a recently developed thermogel for use in wound repair.

Changing wound dressings inflicts pain and may disrupt wound repair. Novel synthetic thermosensitive hydrogels based on polyisocyanopeptide (PIC) offer a solution. These gels are liquid below 16 °C and form gels beyond room temperature. The architecture and mechanical properties of PIC gels closely resemble collagen and fibrin, including the characteristic stiffening response at high strains. In a full-thickness dorsal skin wound model in mice wounds were treated with PIC gel and PIC-RGD gel for 3 and 7 days and analyzed. The absence of adverse effects, ease of application, and the possibilities for bio-functionalization make the biomimetic PIC hydrogels suitable for development into wound dressings. Since we aim to bring this material to the patient setting, we closely collaborate with the Dutch burns foundation and Dutch burn centres. We hope to soon present additional data that further demonstrate the usefulness of this novel thermogel. 

Publication:

Op 't Veld RC, van den Boomen OI, Lundvig DMS, Bronkhorst EM, Kouwer PHJ, Jansen JA, Middelkoop E, Von den Hoff JW, Rowan AE, Wagener FADTG* Thermosensitive biomimetic polyisocyanopeptide hydrogels may facilitate wound repair. Biomaterials.

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  Dentistry