{"id":125514,"date":"2025-09-10T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=125514"},"modified":"2026-02-19T16:40:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T22:40:45","slug":"unmc-researchers-unveil-smart-bandage-that-heals-wounds-faster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/09\/10\/unmc-researchers-unveil-smart-bandage-that-heals-wounds-faster\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC researchers unveil ‘smart bandage’ that heals wounds faster"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A groundbreaking new bandage developed by researchers at UNMC could transform wound care by accelerating healing and dramatically reducing scarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by Sangamesh Kumbar, PhD, professor, and Sama Abdulmalik, PhD, assistant professor, in the UNMC College of Dentistry, the team has created a first-of-its-kind \u201celectroceutical\u201d bandage that combines chemical and electrical stimulation to supercharge the body\u2019s natural healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The innovation, recently accepted for publication in the journal Biomaterials<\/a>, integrates a nerve-repair drug (4-aminopyridine) with controlled electrical pulses delivered through a smart, ionically conductive chitosan-based bandage. The result? Faster wound closure, reduced inflammation and healthier, more functional skin regeneration in laboratory models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is more than a bandage \u2014 it\u2019s a healing system,\u201d Dr. Kumbar said. \u201cBy combining ionic and electrical cues, we\u2019re activating biological pathways that neither approach could trigger on its own. The mechanism offers a powerful strategy to improve wound repair, restore tissue function and reduce scarring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team\u2019s earlier research in peripheral nerve repair laid the foundation for this breakthrough. Now, they\u2019re applying the same principles to skin wounds \u2014 where scarring remains a persistent clinical challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In lab studies, the dual-action bandage significantly boosted the activity of skin-repairing cells, improved collagen structure and even stimulated the expression of neurotrophic factors \u2014 proteins that support nerve and tissue repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to move beyond passive wound dressings,\u201d Dr. Abdulmalik said. \u201cThis technology actively guides the healing process, which could be a game-changer for both civilian and military medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research now is progressing into larger preclinical models, with the aim of bringing this next-generation wound care solution closer to clinical use.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lab research shows progress in moving beyond a passive wound dressing into a more beneficial healing 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