Rice lab surprised to find its drug-delivery system can help even without drugs
Sometimes when you’re invested in a project you fail to notice things that turn out to be significant.
Researchers in the Rice lab of chemist and bioengineer Jeffrey Hartgerink had just such an experience with the hydrogels they developed as a synthetic scaffold to deliver drugs and encourage the growth of cells and blood vessels for new tissue.
To do so, they often tested the gels by infusing them before injection with bioactive small molecules, cells or proteins. What they didn’t realize until recently was that the hydrogel itself has significant therapeutic qualities.
The lab reported in the Elsevier journal Biomaterials that a particular hydrogel, a self-assembling multidomain peptide (MDP) with the amino acid sequence K2(SL)6K2, is indeed bioactive.
Once Hartgerink and his team started to investigate the phenomenon, they found that even without additives their MDP is rapidly infiltrated by host cells, provokes a temporary inflammatory response, does not develop a fibrous capsule, supports the infiltration of a mature vascular network and recruits nerve fibers.
“We were surprised to find this strong effect in what we had previously considered to be a control peptide,” Hartgerink said. “As it turned out, the inherent structure and chemistry of this peptide, despite being quite simple, results in a strong biological response.”
The hydrogel, which can be delivered through a syringe, is designed to degrade over six weeks and leave behind healthy tissue. Because the peptides are designed from the bottom up to mimic their natural counterparts, the lab found they create an optimal environment for the body’s own systems to encourage healing.
The researchers reported the natural inflammatory response when a foreign substance like a hydrogel is introduced into a system and draws cells that secrete proteins involved in cellular infiltration, scaffold degradation, vascularization and innervation. Tests on injected hydrogel showed a “statistically significant” increase in the presence of cytokines known to provoke an inflammatory response, as well as an increase in anti-inflammatory agents, both of which remained steady after day three and through two weeks.
That, Hartgerink said, indicates the hydrogel appears to harness the body’s innate capacity to heal as it transitions from a pro-inflammatory to a pro-healing environment.
“As we eventually discovered, this exceptional peptide allows the body to carry out healing on its own, but with a significant boost,” he said. “We believe the key step is the initial, and very rapid, cell infiltration. Once these cells are on location, they produce everything they need for an impressive regenerative response, including angiogenesis and neurogenesis.”
Hartgerink said the lab is pursuing application of the peptide for wound-healing in diabetic ulcers.
Learn more: Hydrogel helps heal without additives
The Latest on: Healing hydrogels
[google_news title=”” keyword=”healing hydrogels” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Healing hydrogels
- Skin Care Newson April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm
However, currently available hydrogels adhere to the skin and swell ... where it accelerates wound healing. These effects ...
- No Antibiotics Needed – Revolutionary Chronic Wound Treatment Could Help Millionson April 28, 2024 at 1:29 am
An international team of scientists has developed a new treatment for chronic wounds that uses ionized gas to activate a wound dressing, without the need for antibiotics. The treatment involves the pl ...
- New Way to Heal Broken Bones Faster May Also Make Them 3x Strongeron April 21, 2024 at 3:29 am
A new high-tech way of healing broken bones could take less time, and also make them over three times stronger.
- The 18 Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles and Wrinkleson April 19, 2024 at 7:23 am
Branded content. Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Has sleep become a hot commodity in your house? If so, you’re likely ...
- Hydrogel Dressings Market Growth Driven by Rising Incidence of Wound Cases | Marketresearch.bizon April 19, 2024 at 12:45 am
Marketresearch.biz reports that the Rising prevalence of diabetics, coupled with clotting disorders, increasing accidental cases, and burn injuries are boosting the demand for hydrogel dressings for ...
- Crystal Healing 101: A Beginner’s Guide To The Spiritual Practiceon April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
and if so, may have benefited from the grounding power of healing crystals. So, what’s so special about these ancient stones? While there is no hard proof that these stones will spark any ...
- How Are Hydrogels Shaping the Future of Biomedicine?on April 18, 2024 at 1:03 am
thermo-responsive hydrogels (TRHs), whose reactions fluctuate with temperature, has proved very beneficial in drug delivery for various infectious diseases. Self-healing hydrogels (SHHs) have recently ...
- Top 8 Best Protein Supplements for Wound Healing in 2024on April 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The process of wound healing is intricate and demands adequate nutrition to bolster the body’s inherent healing capability. Protein is crucial in this procedure, aiding in tissue recovery and ...
- New Hydrogel Material Removes Microplastics From Wateron April 14, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Researchers have developed a new multi-layered hydrogel material that can effectively capture microplastics from contaminated water and break them down when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. The new ...
via Bing News