Description:
- Burn treatment
- Emergency medical services
- Battlefield medicine
Abstract
USC inventors propose a spray-on burn bandage employing a thermo-responsive hydrogel. The bandage adheres strongly to both healthy and burned skin at body temperature, and it can be easily removed by cooling with a cold compress. The hydrogel mimics the natural extracellular matrix of skin to provide a moist environment ideal for wound healing and protect the area from foreign contaminants. Antibacterial and analgesic agents may also be incorporated into the hydrogel dressing to prevent infection and provide topical wound relief.
Benefit
- Allows for rapid application over a large area
- Molds to the contours of the body
- Easily removed with a cold compress
- All-in-one antibacterial and analgesic treatment
Market Application
Burns from heat, cold, chemical, or electrical exposure can lead to severe injury and cause systemic inflammation, a hypermetabolic state, infection, and organ failure. An ideal burn treatment should cover the immediate wound, prevent subsequent polytrauma, and disinfect the area. However, enclosing the extensive and irregular surface area of major burns in a durable and timely manner is challenging, particularly in an emergency medicine or combat setting.
Publications
WO/2023/055751 (published PCT patent application)
Other
Stage of Development
- Optimization in progress
- Available for exclusive or non-exclusive license