One of the challenges in treating burn victims is the frequency of dressing changes, which can be extremely painful.
One of the challenges in treating burn victims is the frequency of dressing changes, which can be extremely painful.
To bring relief to this and other problems, University of Waterloo researchers have created a new type of wound dressing material using advanced polymers. This new dressing could enhance the healing process for burn patients and have potential applications for drug delivery in cancer treatment as well as in the cosmetic industry.
"To treat burn victims, we can customize the shape using a 3D printer, secondly, the material has fine-tuned surface adhesion, which is a key feature", said Dr. Boxin Zhao, a professor in Waterloo's Department of Chemical Engineering, whose team has made significant strides in developing intelligent hydrogel materials for use as a reusable wound dressing. "The material can easily adhere to the skin and be taken off. It's a very delicate balance within the material to make the adhesion work."
Read more at University of Waterloo
Image: Customize hydrogel masks (Credit: University of Waterloo)
