Introduction
Diabetes has emerged as a significant public health threat in both developed and developing countries. According to the World Health Organization WHO, there were 463 million adult cases of diabetes in 2019, with an expected increase to 700 million by 2045. India has the highest number of people with diabetes, with an estimated 74.5 million cases in 2019, projected to increase to 135.3 million by 2045. Diabetic wounds, particularly those on the feet and legs, are a common complication of diabetes and are associated with delayed healing or non-healing, leading to serious complications, including amputation. Current approaches to treating diabetic wounds have limitations, including high cost, harsh side effects, and limited ability to control moisture and prevent infection. In this context, our research team developed a novel composite hydrogel using amyloidogenic protein and aloe vera with tuneable mechanical properties to improve diabetic wound healing. Our work involved synthesizing the hydrogel by crosslinking the chosen polymers using chemical, physical, or enzymatic methods, evaluating its physical and chemical properties, and modifying the hydrogel to tailor it for specific applications. We tested the hydrogel’s biocompatibility and potential interactions with cells and biomolecules in laboratory settings and evaluated its performance and safety in animal models relevant to the target application. Our hydrogel exhibited a potent wound-healing effect, stimulating the proliferation of repair cells in vitro, and accelerating collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and nerve repair in both type 2 diabetic rat and rat skin defect models. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that poses a significant public health burden, with delayed wound healing being a severe and prevalent complication associated with diabetic skin ulcers. Conventional approaches to treat diabetic wounds, such as surgical debridement, negative pressure therapy, and frequent dressings, have demonstrated limited efficacy due to the complex microenvironment, uncontrolled bacterial infection, hyperglycemia, and limitations of available dressing materials. To address this challenge, we have developed an on-demand protein and aloe vera-based composite hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties called Proteo-heal to promote diabetic wound healing. This hydrogel is multifunctional and has the potential to be applied as 3D-printed customized wound dressing,ointment/sprayable gel for rapid healing, and suture for wound closure. The hydrogel exhibited tunable porous morphology, non-toxicity, and controlled rheological properties, as well as promising in vitro and in vivo results in promoting wound healing and reducing inflammation. Our synthesized hydrogel can be applied in the personalized treatment of various wound types, accommodating individual diabetic patients, clinicians, doctors, pharmacists, and the pharmaceutical industry. A patent application has been filed to protect our novel hydrogels’ unique properties, and pilot experiments will be performed to optimize cost-effectiveness and scalable production. In conclusion, our sustainable approach to developing an innovative hydrogel offers great commercial potential in treating diabetic wound healing, given the increasing prevalence of diabetes and the multi-functionality and biocompatibility of our hydrogel.
Estimated Timeline for the Project
3 Years
Expected Impact
Our formulated Proteo-Heal represents a unique and sustainable approach to the treatment of diabetic wounds, featuring the following characteristics: Tailored mechanical properties Ranging from Pascal to Mega Pascal : The mechanical properties Strength of hydrogel can be tailored by varying the type and concentration of protein used ranging from , as well as other physical parameters such as gelation time and temperature. Multifunctionality UV protection, antimicrobial, and diabetic wound care : Our hydrogel exhibits multifunctionality through the tuning of its mechanical properties. This allows for a range of applications, including 3D printed customized wound dressings, ointments/sprayable gel, and sutures for diabetic wound care. Biocompatible and Non-Allergic: Our hydrogel is made from natural, non-toxic materials, and can be broken down naturally, which makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wound care products. As a result, our hydrogel is highly biocompatible and non-allergic, safe for all age groups, and can be used for extended periods without any adverse effects.
On the societal level, a new and effective Proteo-Heal for diabetic wound healing could help to reduce the number of amputations and hospitalizations caused by diabetic foot ulcers. This would lead to a reduction in healthcare costs and an improvement in the quality of life for people with diabetes. In terms of market impact, the development of a new and effective hydrogel for diabetic wound healing could lead to a significant increase in the demand for this product. This could lead to new business opportunities for companies in the wound care industry, and could also lead to the development of new products and technologies related to wound care. Additionally, Proteo-Heal for diabetic wound healing could also provide new opportunities for advanced wound care in home setting, allowing patients to take care of their own wounds at home and reducing the need for hospitalization. Furthermore, a new and effective hydrogel could also be used in other wound healing applications beyond diabetes, such as burn wounds, pressure ulcers, and others, increasing the market potential and opportunity. Overall, the potential societal and market impact of a newly invented hydrogel for diabetic wound healing could be significant, leading to a reduction in healthcare costs and an improvement in the quality of life for people with diabetes, as well as new business opportunities in the wound care industry.
Note: We already have registered our start-up company Proamyloidocare Private Limited.
