Early and late complications connected with wound healing are still common causes for patient disability and even mortality. These not only significantly lower the patient`s quality of life, but also present a huge financial burden for the healthcare systems around the world. Treatment of larger wounds often requires the use of more complex materials, which can ensure a successful renewal or replacement of damaged or destroyed tissues. The domain of wound healing is vast and growing rapidly. Firstly, the possibility to anticipate macro-scale wound dressing properties by modulating the materials on 2D thin films will be discussed. Through such studies, significant cost reduction can be achieved, especially, when expensive ingredients such as growth factors and drugs are explored. One of the most commonly used technique in the development of wound care materials is electrospinning, by which nanofibers that simulate the extracellular matrix (ECM) are fabricated. Natural ECM is a dynamic structure based on hierarchical nanostructures, with a crucial role in promotion and regulation of important cellular functions, such as adhesion, proliferation, migration, differentiation and morphogenesis. Through these features, the ECM is indirectly responsible for the skin`s mechanical support, and, simultaneously, for its appropriate flexibility. By using electrospinning and developing a formulation based on biodegradable polymers, structures with crucial resemblance to the morphological characteristics of the skins ECM can be produced. Nanofibers have high-surface area, which makes them suitable for loading with drugs or other active biomolecules. Further, the benefits of such complex nanofibrillated structures with included analgesic drugs on skin cells will be presented. The more recent emphasis of our studies is on the development and fabrication of scaffolds by utilizing 3D bioprinting, which enables the reproducible production of complex geometric structures, with high spatial resolution using a broad range of biocompatible polymeric materials. Finally, the studies concerning the improvement of mechanical properties 3D printed scaffolds by adding nanofibrillated cellulose, the influence of added growth factors and analgesic drugs on skin cell proliferation, as well the development of a bioink with in situ incorporated skin cells suitable for 3D printing will be reviewed.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 22415894The global wound dressings market is estimated to be valued at USD 6.31 Billion in 2016, and is projected to grow of 6.0% from 2016 to 2021, to reach USD 8.46 Billion by 2021. Advanced wound dressings segment registered one of the largest market share in last years and is strongly connected to rapidly ageing of the world population. These advanced dressings are based on the concept of creating an optimal environment for effective wound healing. One of the most important materials for development of the modern wound dressings are different polysaccharides which are due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and in some cases bioactivity, finding an increasing number of applications in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Research in the field of wound care has undergone significant progress in the last ten years also due to implementation of new techniques, like electrospinning, 3D printing, spin coating etc. Several chapters disclose the novel solutions (different functionalization’s) that could speed up the uptake of novel technologies into the wound care. As such, different possibility of analgesic drugs and plant extract incorporations are described. Added are some novel possibilities for achievement of antimicrobial effect by safe binding of silver and by using of ammonium plasma that could also contribute to faster healing of wounds. Further are discussed some aspect of development of engineered tissues that not only close wounds but also stimulate the regeneration of the dermis. Finally, the Brief is rounded up with an overview of the necessary laboratory safety and efficiency testing that can provide a platform to boost the development of advanced wound dressing solutions.
E.03 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 21389590New knowledge on the field of Materials.
C.04 Editorial board of an international magazine
COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485