Intelligent Wound Dressing Controls Inflammation
A July 4, 2025 Medical Xpress article profiles pioneering work from ETH Zurich on a novel “intelligent” granular hydrogel dressing designed to modulate inflammation and promote healing in chronic wounds.
Key Highlights:
- Innovator: Börte Emiroglu, an ETH Zurich Pioneer Fellow, developed a hydrogel composed of microgel particles that can absorb pro-inflammatory molecular signals while releasing regenerative factors.
- How It Works: Packaged into a sponge-like dressing, the hydrogel uses specific ligands to selectively bind inflammatory cytokines, minimizing harmful immune responses and encouraging tissue repair.
- Scientific Roots: Inspiration came from biological transport mechanisms in unicellular organisms—the hydrogel’s modular design allows for customization to match patient and wound-specific needs.
- Startup & Scale-Up: Emiroglu co-founded the spinout Immunosponge with lab colleague Apoorv Singh, aiming for an early-stage commercial prototype following her ETH Pioneer Fellowship.
- Clinical Potential: Initially targeting chronic skin wounds, the hydrogel technology may also be applicable to internal tissue injuries—such as bone, cartilage, or tendon—with poor healing potential.
This intelligent dressing represents a shift toward active immunomodulation—not just passive coverage—tailored to the wound’s inflammatory state and readiness for regeneration.
Keywords:
Deborah Kyburz,
Börte Emiroglu,
Apoorv Singh,
Immunosponge,
granular hydrogel,
microgel particles,
immunomodulation,
chronic wounds,
tissue regeneration