This text is part of the special notebook Innovating for better care
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have developed a new material aimed at promoting tissue repair, particularly after surgery.
A hole in the cornea, scars on the skin… The new peptide-based gel could disrupt the repair of cellular tissues in many human organs. These materials with a gelatinous consistency help heal wounds. They are also used to treat a damaged heart, or to promote the healing of damaged corneas, explains Dr.r Emilio I. Alarcon, associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and co-director of the work with Dr Erik Suuronen and the Dr Marc Ruel. Their research was also the subject of an article in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
These hydrogels are usually made with materials of animal origin or protein-based. But the biomaterial developed by Mr. Alarcon and his team contains peptides developed in the laboratory. “Most other materials use collagen or animal products. In our case, we use advanced engineering design to control the chemistry that occurs. We do not use anything derived from animals,” describes the man who also directs the Therapeutic Solutions and Bioengineering Laboratory (BEaTS) at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
This way, the researcher and his team can control how and when the peptide will be activated more precisely in a product better suited to clinical applications, he adds. The formula can thus be adapted according to the damaged parts of the body and be used on a variety of tissues and organs.
This product looks a bit like transparent gelatin, describes Mr. Alarcon. Its consistency can be elastic. “These hydrogels are very stretchy. But, at the same time, they have properties that allow them to become very robust. So you can apply a lot of pressure and the material will still maintain the same shape,” he says.
Researchers have also developed a series of devices for applying this hydrogel. “These are kinds of syringes that allow you to spread the product on the wound. It’s a very simple one-handed system because surgeons need the other hand for other things,” adds Alarcon.
A modified recipe
To achieve this result, the researchers modified two components of the material. “Imagine a pastry recipe. You can add more or less water, depending on whether you’re making pancakes or waffles, he illustrates. So, by changing the ratio of the distribution between A and B, you can produce a material that could be injected directly into the heart or that could be used to repair the cornea or the skin. »
This gel could notably be used to administer cardiac medications, he says. “If you have something embedded in your eye, we could remove it and fill the hole to save the eye and preserve the cornea,” cites Mr. Alarcon as an example.
The new biogel could also revolutionize post-operative treatments, as it prevents scarring. “So you can seal the wound and there will be minimal to no scarring. This is a big advantage in the surgical field,” argues the researcher.
This could particularly benefit patients who have undergone open heart surgery. “When they look in the mirror, their scar reminds them of the worst day of their life. We would like them to have none when they return home,” says Mr. Alarcon.
Human trials coming soon
The crux of the matter remains the search for financing in order to lead to the commercialization of this discovery, explains Dr.r Alarcon. “We spent at least four years, if not more, doing this just to get to this point,” he says. But it’s much easier than other technologies, because everything is made in a lab, whereas for animal-based materials you have to get permission from multiple regulatory agencies. »
After initial tests on the heart and skin of rodents, others will soon be carried out on large mammals such as pigs. If the analyzes are conclusive, the researcher then plans to request authorization from Health Canada to carry out initial tests on humans.
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