As more people grow older and diabetes becomes more common, chronic wounds are becoming a serious global problem. These are wounds that do not heal even after several weeks. Around 12 million people worldwide suffer from chronic wounds each year, including about 4.5 million in the United States. In severe cases, these wounds can lead to infection, tissue damage, and even amputation. In fact, about one in five patients with chronic wounds may eventually lose a limb.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have created a new medical gel that may help solve this problem. The gel is designed to deliver oxygen directly to damaged tissue. The team believes that a lack of oxygen inside deep wounds is one of the main reasons why many injuries fail to heal properly. When a wound forms, the body normally goes through several healing steps. First, there is inflammation, which is the body’s natural response to injury. Next, the body begins forming new blood vessels. This stage is important because blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients to the injured area.
Then this tissue begins to rebuild until the skin heals. However, if there is little or no oxygen (hypoxia), healing can slow or stop. In many chronic wounds, oxygen cannot reach the damaged tissue. This low oxygen level prevents normal healing, keeps the wound inflamed, allows bacteria to grow, and stops the tissue from repairing itself. The researchers explained how they used a gel to prevent hypoxia in a paper published in Nature Communications Materials.
To fix this problem, researchers developed a soft, flexible gel. The gel contains water and a special liquid made from choline. Choline is safe for the body and can help fight bacteria. The gel works with a small battery, similar in size to those used in hearing aids. When the battery is connected, the gel starts to work. It acts like a tiny device. It splits water molecules and slowly produces oxygen to help the wound heal.
Unlike regular bandages that only work on the surface, this gel can fill the shape of the wound. It can reach small spaces and deeper areas where oxygen levels are usually lowest. This function is important because infections often begin in those hard-to-reach spaces.
Another key feature of the gel is that it provides oxygen continuously. Some treatments give oxygen for only a short time, but that is not enough for chronic wounds. Healing blood vessels can take weeks to form. The new gel can supply a steady flow of oxygen for up to one month. This long-term support may help a wound move through all the stages of healing normally.
The researchers tested the gel on diabetic and older mice. These animals were chosen because their wounds heal in a similar way to chronic wounds in elderly people. In the tests, wounds that did not receive treatment stayed open and sometimes became life-threatening. However, when the oxygen-producing gel was applied and replaced weekly, the wounds closed in about 23 days. The animals survived and recovered.
The team believes the gel could be developed into a practical medical product. It may need to be replaced regularly, but it could greatly improve wound care. The material may also have additional benefits. The choline in the gel can help reduce excessive inflammation. Chronic wounds often contain unstable molecules that damage cells and keep the body in a constant state of stress. By supplying steady oxygen and calming the immune response, the gel helps restore balance in the tissue.
Current wound treatments mainly focus on absorbing fluid or preventing infection. However, they do not directly solve the problem of low oxygen. The researchers say their approach targets the root cause of poor healing. The impact of this technology could go beyond wound care. Growing new tissues and organs in laboratories also requires a steady oxygen supply. Without enough oxygen, cells inside thick tissues can die.
The researchers hope this innovation could one day help in developing larger and more complex tissues for medical use. Although technology cannot address all chronic wound causes, this new gel has the potential to decrease amputations and enhance patients’ quality of life. By giving damaged tissue the oxygen it needs, the treatment could help the body heal itself more effectively.
