Scientists have created a ‘bio-scaffold’ that could speed up the healing of wounds.
In a world first, the researchers designed materials that ‘talk’ to the body’s injured tissue to support its repair through every stage of the healing process.
Known as traction force-activated payloads (TrAPs), the scientists believe the technique will have ‘far-reaching uses’ on everything from broken bones to diabetic foot ulcers.
TrAPs were designed by scientists at Imperial College London in a study led by Dr Ben Almquist from the department of bioengineering.
While collagen sponges are already used on burns and scaffold-like implants help to strengthen broken bones, the researchers felt a material should be created that met the changing needs of damaged tissue as it goes through the healing process … read more