A current research is taking all the wind and proven to be the best in biotechnology era. This breakthrough research is coming from the Chalmers Institute of Technology, Sweden and University of Freiburg, Germany, where electric current has successfully speed up the healing process of chronic wounds.
This study is based on the principle, which states that Human skin is electrostatic and cells respond within reach of an electric current. Furthermore, it is known that the cell can be guided toward the wound site by an electric field. Thus, the researchers created a technique to enhance this strategy. a biochip that heals wounds more quickly than regular cells by using electricity.
The lead researcher, Maria Asplund, highlighted that it has been observed during the research that skin cells migrate faster and more efficiently toward the wound-damaged area. Eventually, that speeds up the healing process. She continued, “Our discovery of a method that may heal wounds up to three times faster can be a game changer for diabetic and elderly people, among others, who often suffer greatly from wounds that won’t heal.”
Although it is known that electricity can aid in healing, it has never been thoroughly proven how the direction and strength of an electric field affect the process.
Thus, using a bioelectronic platform, the researchers cultivated artificial skin composed of keratinocytes, the most prevalent type of skin cells that are essential for the healing process. These cells are designed specifically for diabetic patients and have been tested. They used this chip to compare a low electric field (200 mV/mm) and another chip without an electric field. Cells migrated up to three times quicker than regular skin cells, and when an electrical push is applied from only one side of the wound, the wound begins to heal most efficiently in less time.
During the study, it was concluded that when the wound is exposed to a controlled electric field, it accelerates wound healing by 3X times with no negative impact on cells.
Asplund adds,”Chip on wound works slowly but get super rapidly charged once push of electric current.” Additionally, they evaluated generating alternating fields on both sides of the wound by applying electric fields on one side.
This groundbreaking research can be a revolutionary solution for diabetes, cancer, or for patients with conditions where their wound takes years to heal. Open chronic wounds are prone to infection and eventually cause severe complications. Moreover, no adverse effects have been observed, which underscores the potential of this method for clinical use. While on clinical trials on a diabetic patient, the approach shows a positive result and hastens the healing process than normal & healthier cells.
