A team from Texas Agricultural Research Station reported a novel gel incorporating collagen for wound healing. The gel combines collagen with other materials, and speeds the closure of wounds, according to Dr Douglas Miller, one of the scientists working on the project.

Trials in rats showed comparable healing between untreated and treated wounds where injury ages were 6 and 3 days respectively, which the BBC expresses as a 50% improvement in wound closure.a 50% improvement in wound closure:BBC

Benefits and Application

Miller highlights the benefits of collagen, being an abundant protein within the body, so rarely producing allergic reactions. It is hoped that a major application of this wound healing product will be in diabetic ulceration.

The key to the new gel is that it is flexible and does not tear away from the wound surface as the subject moves during normal physiological activities. Miller hopes that future trials will take place, which may show a decreased visibility of scarring, and or an increased healing ratio.

Possible further applications may exist within the realm of drug delivery. The collagen gel is at present not manufactured to medical quality, and the FDA approval process has not been entered into.

References

http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ANSC/Jul2403a.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3097599.stm