Healing Hydrogel

At Rice University, USA, bioengineer Jeffrey Hartgerink and colleagues studied hydrogels as drug deliverers and accidentally discovered their amazing property to induce cell division and vascular growth, leading to the restoration of damaged tissue.

The hydrogel referred to in the article consists of self-assembling multidomain peptides (MDP) with a sequence of amino acids Lysine2-(Serine, Leucine)6-Lysine2. Hartgerink and his group found that the gel quickly penetrates into the cells of the body and provokes short-term inflammation without the development of fibrosis. This causes the growth of blood vessels and nerve fibers.

Tissue restoration within 6 weeks after hydrogel administration.
Here and below the source is Hartgerink Research Group.

The hydrogel can be injected, after 6 weeks it completely disintegrates and is replaced by healthy tissue.

Under the action of MDR, an increase in the number of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines occurs, lasting up to two weeks.

Such an "irritating" effect of the hydrogel is beneficial: the speed of natural healing processes increases, damaged tissues recover faster. It is impressive that, in addition to the rest, angio- and neurogenesis increases – the growth of newly formed vessels and nerves.

The growth of new vessels with subcutaneous administration of hydrogel.

The authors' next goal is to use the results obtained to develop treatments for diabetic ulcers.

Article by A. N. Moore et al. Nanofibrous peptide hydrogel elicits angiogenesis and neurogenesis without drugs, proteins, or cells is published in the journal Biomaterials.

Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Rice University News and Media: Hydrogel helps heal without additives.