Piezoelectric Nanogenerators for skin wound healing
Prevalence of chronic wounds increases along with vascular diseases, diabetes and systemic factors like advanced age. It is estimated that 1-2% of the population would experience a chronic wound and the annual cost of wound care r...
ver más
¿Tienes un proyecto y buscas un partner? Gracias a nuestro motor inteligente podemos recomendarte los mejores socios y ponerte en contacto con ellos. Te lo explicamos en este video
Información proyecto ELECTROSKIN
Duración del proyecto: 24 meses
Fecha Inicio: 2020-03-31
Fecha Fin: 2022-03-31
Fecha límite de participación
Sin fecha límite de participación.
Descripción del proyecto
Prevalence of chronic wounds increases along with vascular diseases, diabetes and systemic factors like advanced age. It is estimated that 1-2% of the population would experience a chronic wound and the annual cost of wound care rise to 20 billion dollars in United States. Current therapies are mainly based on in situ administration of bioactive molecules incorporated in wound dressings, although there still are patients resistant to these therapies. In those cases, electroceutical therapies could be an alternative strategy. The use of electrical stimulation is used nowadays to treat neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, although it has a great potential for other tissues as skin. It is known that bioelectricity has an essential role in wound healing, and in chronic wounds, there is a loss of physiological currents. Therefore, the use of exogenous electric fields could enhance chronic wound healing. We propose the use of piezoelectric nanogenerators (NGs) to treat chronic skin ulcers by creating local electric fields without the need of external power and electrodes. Piezoelectric NGs are able to create an inherent electric field when they are strained, collecting the mechanical energy and transforming it to the electric energy. Piezoelectric zinc oxide and poly(vinylidene fluoride) will be tested as NGs for skin tissue applications. We will evaluate their in vitro biocompatibility as well as hemocompatibility and inflammatory properties. The development of in vitro 3D model will allow to analyse the simultaneous interaction of various cell types with NGs. We will also analyse the effect of electric fields generated on different cell types and elucidate the response of the cell membrane and changes in gene expression. Apart from the scientific knowledge, the purpose will allow to start an international multidisciplinary collaboration. The experienced researcher will be able to lead a project and expand his competences and skills in skin tissue engineering.