Researchers develop new 3d technique to revolutionise diabetes treatment
A new bandage treatment known as a scaffold to treat diabetic foot ulcers, which is cost-effective while improving patient outcomes, has been designed by researchers at Queen's University Belfast.
Produced by 3D bio-printing, the scaffolds slowly release antibiotics over a four-week period to effectively treat the wound. The study was published in the journal Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
Diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high, is among the top ten causes of deaths worldwide.
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is a serious complication of diabetes, affecting approximately 25 per cent of diabetic patients. When identified, over 50 per cent are already infected and over 70 per cent of the cases result in lower limb amputation.
The treatment strategy required for the effective healing of DFU is a complex process that requires several combined therapeutic approaches.
As a result, there is a significant clinical and economic burden associated with treating DFU. These treatments are often unsuccessful, which leads to lower-limb amputation.
This new research demonstrates outcomes with significant implications for patient quality of life, as well as decreasing the costs and clinical burden in treating DFU.
Recent research has focused on drug-loaded scaffolds to treat DFU. The scaffold structure is a novel carrier for cell and drug delivery that enhances wound healing.
The research, published in Springer Link, will be presented by Professor Lamprou at the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Workshop Italy (7 - 9 October).
Dimitrios Lamprou, a professor of Biofabrication and Advanced Manufacturing at Queen's School of Pharmacy and corresponding author explains, “These scaffolds are like windows that enable doctors to monitor the healing constantly. This avoids needing to remove them constantly, which can provoke infection and delay the healing process.”
"The 'frame' has an antibiotic that helps to 'kill' the bacteria infection, and the 'glass' that can be prepared by collagen/sodium alginate can contain a growth factor to encourage cell growth. The scaffold has two molecular layers that both play an important role in healing the wound."
Lead author Katie Glover, from the Queen's School of Pharmacy, concludes, "Using bio-printing technology, we have developed a scaffold with suitable mechanical properties to treat the wound, which can be easily modified to the size of the wound."
Glover added, "This provides a low-cost alternative to current DFU treatments, which could revolutionise DFU treatment, improving patient outcomes while reducing the economic burden caused by rapidly increasing patient demand as the number of people with diabetes continues to increase every year."