New publications

Biosynthetic material based on bacterial cellulose provides accelerated healing of burn wounds
Life after thirty years on ice: in the US a child was born from an embryo frozen for 30 years
'Sugar disguise': Scientists find a way to protect beta cells in type 1 diabetes, borrowed from cancer
Accumulated sleepiness, not sleep deprivation, worsens seizures: New discovery changes approach to epilepsy treatment
Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofibrils Created to Combat Intracellular Bacterial Infections
Study identifies three inflammatory pathways underlying childhood asthma attacks
Group of neurons that reduce anxiety discovered: key to new type of therapy for anxiety disorders
New Tenofovir-Based Drug Provides Sustained Release and Effective Treatment of Hepatitis B
Molecular mechanisms of serotonin 5-HT1A receptor revealed: a step towards new antidepressants
Poor sleep in all its forms increases the risk of many diseases and deaths

Biosynthetic material based on bacterial cellulose provides accelerated healing of burn wounds

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 03.08.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

02 August 2025, 19:51

Scientists from the Shenzhen Advanced Institutes of Science and Technology (CAS) together with colleagues from Shanghai Jiaotong Medical University have developed an innovative hemostatic dressing material based on bacterial cellulose (BC) enhanced with thrombin. The results of the study were published in the journal Advanced Materials.

Problem

When treating burn wounds and other serious injuries, it is important to stop bleeding quickly, but traditional electrocoagulation can damage tissue and requires specialized equipment.

Solution

A team led by Drs Zhong Chao and An Bolin attached human thrombin to a nanoporous bacterial cellulose structure via a specially engineered cellulose-binding domain (CBD). The resulting T-BC composite combines:

High biocompatibility and breathability BC,
Sustained retention and local release of thrombin,
No toxic reagents used in production (simple soaking in a soft protein solution).

Results

Rat liver transection model: bleeding control in ≤1 minute, significantly faster than standard materials.
Model of deep second-degree burn: on the fifth day, wound healing was 40% faster compared to the control.
Genetic tissue analysis: T-BC stimulates neovascularization, optimizes the inflammatory phase and promotes regeneration of skin layers.

Safety

Cellular cytotoxicity, hemolysis and histocompatibility demonstrated no adverse effects, supporting the prospects for clinical application.

Prospects

This easy-to-manufacture 'biomolecular self-assembly' dressing material promises to revolutionise the treatment of both acute bleeding and chronic wounds, including burns, trauma and diabetic ulcers.