Researcher awarded £1.7 million to develop new wound dressings which prevent infection and promote healing

A multidisciplinary team led by an Academic Plastic Surgeon from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and The University of Manchester has been awarded more than £1.74 million to develop a new type of wound dressing which could prevent wound infection and help improve healing.

Professor Jason Wong, who is part of the Dermatology Theme at the NIHR Manchester BRC, has been awarded the funding through a 3-year UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council (MRC) Development Pathway Funding Scheme.

Wounds are breeding grounds for microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Wound infection can cause delayed healing, loss of skin grafts (where healthy skin is removed from an unaffected area of the body and used to cover lost or damaged skin) and sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection).

Delayed wound healing has a significant functional and psychological impact on patients. It can result in loss of limbs (particularly in diabetic foot disease) or even loss of life (particularly in burn injuries).

Jason Wong, who is an Honorary Consultant at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine at The University of Manchester, said: “Wound dressings are important for wound care and management, but there is little evidence to support the routine use of current antimicrobial dressings for complex wounds, which aim to prevent or stop the growth of microbes. Most antimicrobial dressings do not show clear advantages, and this could be due to the active agents preventing wound healing or not working against certain microbes.

“The repeated or prolonged use of traditional antibiotics in wound care, especially chronic wound treatments, can cause the emergence of bacteria, fungi and viruses resistant to these commonly used antimicrobials. This highlights the urgent need for new, more powerful, yet safe dressings.”

Using this funding, Professor Wong and the research team will aim to develop new dressings that contain antimicrobial peptide (AMP) releasing hydrofibres (microbe killing proteins).

Unlike traditional antibiotics, AMPs are effective against a broad range of  microbes, can act quickly and penetrate through microbes’ resistant barriers.

The team have already developed an AMP which has been tested against a range of microbes, is easy to produce and is non-toxic. This study will aim to show it has low side effects and develop it towards a clinical product.

The project will be in collaboration with Convatec, a global medical products and technologies company focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, who are providing in-kind support throughout the study.

Professor Wong said: “I am delighted to have been awarded this grant with such an accomplished multidisciplinary team of scientists from The University of Manchester, MFT and industry. The development of this wound dressing could be invaluable for patients and clinicians in helping to prevent infection and improve healing. Through our work we will recognise their healthcare needs, which will include controlling local infection, making sure the dressings are easy to apply and remove, and exudate management (help prevent excess fluid leakages).”