Microfabricated hydrogel-based complex patch with time dependent controlled multiple-release of biomolecules for improved healing of skin wounds
Skin wounds represent a significant economic and social burden, associated with a long-lasting nature and need of care. Most of the commercially available patches for wound healing have been proved very useful in wound management but are yet to demonstrate a direct effect on the progression of the healing. This has significant implications in the quality of the clinical results obtained so far. Skin patches can be substantially improved in terms of the healing time, with clear benefits in the patient’s quality of life and in reducing health care systems costs, as well as on the quality of the new skin. The use of hydrogel-based patches has clear advantages in maintaining the moist environment required for improved healing but those devices are not yet designed to actively aid the healing process. Because the healing cascade is a complex and step wise process, PATCHED proposes to proof the feasibility and efficacy of a hydrogel-based patch designed to address that complexity and time dependence. PATCHED relies on the versatility of a technology developed under the scope of ComplexiTE ERC AdG that will allow extending its outputs towards a concurrent biomedical application. Therefore PATCHED will produce a prototype of an innovative multi-component hydrogel-based patch that contains selected biomolecules that will have different actions according to different microenvironments of the wound. By tailoring the composition, size and shape of the components, a time-dependent release of the biomolecules will be achieved according to the different healing microenvironments. This should result in a dynamic and cooperative effect that will address the complexity of the wound process resulting in improved healing. Overall PATCHED represents the proof of concept of a commercialization opportunity that might advance the wound care market, directly impacting the life of millions of patients.