Scientists at National Taiwan University have found a promising new way to help chronic wounds heal faster and with fewer scars—by guiding the body’s own natural repair system using gentle physical and chemical signals like light, electricity, and therapeutic gases.
The research, led by Professor Zong-Hong Lin, was published in Materials Today.
Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, affect millions of people around the world.
These wounds are notoriously difficult to treat because they often get stuck in a cycle of inflammation, infection, and poor blood flow.
Traditional treatments—like bandages, topical creams, and antibiotics—can protect the wound but rarely restart the body’s healing process.
Professor Lin and his team reviewed recent advances showing how combining multiple types of gentle stimulation can kickstart healing at the cellular level.
Instead of depending on one single drug or therapy, their approach mimics the way the body naturally regenerates tissue after an injury.
For instance, electrical stimulation can gently guide skin cells to move and grow in the right direction, helping the wound close more quickly.
At the same time, photothermal therapy, which uses light to produce mild heat, can kill harmful bacteria and support the formation of collagen—the protein that gives skin its structure and elasticity.
The researchers also highlighted the powerful role of therapeutic gases such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Though often associated with pollution or toxicity, in small, controlled amounts these gases act as chemical messengers in the body. They can reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and encourage new blood vessels to form—key steps in wound repair.
When these physical and chemical cues are combined, they create an environment that promotes tissue regeneration rather than scarring. This integrated approach could be especially valuable for people with chronic wounds that fail to heal under standard care.
The research also points to a future where smart dressings could actively participate in healing. These wearable devices might deliver controlled bursts of electricity, light, or gases directly to the wound, transforming wound care from a passive treatment into an active, regenerative therapy.
“By combining different healing strategies into one coordinated system, we aim to help the body heal itself more effectively and with less scarring,” said Professor Lin.
If successful, this next-generation technology could redefine how doctors treat chronic wounds—turning what is now a slow, painful process into one guided by the body’s own natural power to recover.
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Source: KSR.
