Researchers at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), working with Ruijin Hospital, have developed an advanced wound dressing that could greatly improve healing for burn victims and trauma patients. It’s made from bacterial cellulose, a breathable and skin-friendly material, and enhanced with human-derived thrombin, a natural protein that helps blood clot quickly. By fusing these together, they’ve created a dressing that doesn’t just cover wounds—it actively promotes healing.
Traditional methods for stopping bleeding, such as electrocautery, can cause further damage to delicate tissue. In contrast, this new dressing stops bleeding in less than a minute, as demonstrated in lab tests using rat liver wounds. Even more impressive, when applied to deep second-degree burn models, it sped up healing by 40% within five dayscompared to standard treatments.
The dressing works through three main mechanisms: it promotes angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels), reduces inflammation, and helps rebuild the skin’s architecture. The process used to embed thrombin is simple and gentle—no harsh chemicals or extreme conditions—making the final material safe, soft, and compatible with human tissue.
This bioactive dressing, referred to as thrombin-anchored bacterial cellulose (T-BC), represents a promising leap forward for wound care. Because it’s easy to produce and highly effective, it could become an accessible and scalable option for hospitals, emergency responders, and clinics worldwide—especially in situations where fast, safe healing makes all the difference.
Article from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology: Researchers Develop Bacterial Cellulose-Based Dressing for Advanced Burn Wound Care
Abstract in Advanced Materials: Thrombin-Anchored Bacterial Cellulose Dressing for Advanced Burn Wound Care
