Project summary
People living with diabetes are at risk of diabetic foot ulcers. These can lead to repeated infections, loss of independence, and even amputations. Dr Unnithan is testing whether a new type of smart wound dressing can accelerate healing in diabetic foot ulcers. The dressing could help protect people living with diabetes against the devastating consequences of this complication, improving their quality of life.
Background to research
Diabetic foot ulcers are slow-healing and painful wounds caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the nerves in the feet. Many people with diabetic foot ulcers experience emotional distress, repeated infections, and long hospital stays. In the most serious cases, diabetic foot ulcers can lead to amputations and lower life expectancy.
Diabetic foot ulcers take time to heal because the body’s immune system becomes fixed in an alarm-like state. This means that immune cells are inflamed and stop healing progressing. Current treatments for diabetic foot ulcers can take a long time to work, are expensive, and don’t always prevent repeated infections. New treatments are much needed.
Previous research shows that electrical currents stimulate wound healing by changing how immune cells behave. The current helps shift cells into a healing state so they can better repair wounds. But existing approaches use wires or batteries to generate electrical signals. This set-up can be uncomfortable and difficult for people with diabetic foot ulcers to use regularly.
Research aims
Dr Unnithan will build on this research by developing a new type of smart wound dressing and investigating whether it can speed up healing in diabetic foot ulcers. The dressing is called a Piezoelectric Immunomodulatory Nanofiber Patch (PINP).
The PINP works by producing tiny electrical signals when a person moves. Dr Unnithan believes that the signals interact with immune cells, encouraging them to switch from inflammation mode to healing mode.
Dr Unnithan will carry out a series of lab-based tests. He'll start by creating PINPs that are made from soft, skin-friendly materials and engineered to produce electrical signals when gently moved. He will confirm that the patches are safe by testing if they cause irritation to the skin or harm immune cells.
Then Dr Unnithan will bring immune cells into contact with the PINPs, activating the patches with gentle movement. He’ll monitor whether the electrical signals generated by the PINPs stimulate immune cells to change to a healing state. And he’ll measure improvements in the cells’ healing behaviour.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
This research could lead to a faster and simpler way to treat diabetic foot ulcers. Because PINPs don’t require wires or batteries, the dressing presents a simpler and easier way to continuously treat foot ulcers in people’s day-to-day lives. Whilst the PINPs need to go through further development and testing, they have the potential to help lower the risk of repeated infections, support people living with diabetes to keep mobile and independent, and protect against amputations.
