Researchers at the University of Mississippi announced on Mar. 16 that they are developing customizable, 3D-printed medicated patches designed to help heal persistent sores and ulcers. The team from the School of Pharmacy has created a wound scaffold that delivers natural, biodegradable antibacterials over time to encourage healing, with their findings published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics.
Chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores can last for months or even years, posing significant health risks. The new patch aims to address these challenges by providing a breathable structure made from chitosan—a natural material found in crustaceans, insects, and fungi—combined with plant-derived antimicrobials. This combination is intended to accelerate skin cell growth while reducing inflammation and preventing infection.
Sateesh Vemula, postdoctoral researcher, said, "People with limited mobility or diabetes often have wounds with reduced oxygen supply. This can slow the body's normal repair process and make wounds more likely to become long-lasting, while also increasing the chance that bacteria can grow and lead to infection."
Distinguished professor Michael Repka explained that many traditional bandages use organic solvents which may hinder healing: "A lot of bandages are made with organic solvents, which actually hurt the wound-healing process, especially when applied intimately on the wound. With the materials and technique we're using, you don't have organic solvents." He added that avoiding long-term use of traditional antibiotics helps prevent bacterial resistance: "We're also not using traditional antibiotics over a long period of time, because that can often cause the bacteria to become resistant. That's the advantage of using natural products."
Doctoral candidate Nouf Alshammari highlighted another benefit: "The materials we used are also biodegradable. With time, the scaffold is going to be absorbed into the skin. And it's an inactive material, so we don't have to worry about side effects or toxic residuals." Vemula noted this could eliminate the need for additional surgery if used inside the body.
Repka said there are many potential applications for this technology beyond standard wound care: "Depending on what kind of wound it is, a regular bandage might work well and this wouldn't be necessary. But there are a lot of applications for this technology. These could be printed in the field for, say, military applications. If you have a generator that can run these 3D printers, you can print the scaffold you need based on what kind of wound has occurred." Before clinical use is possible, further testing and review by the Food and Drug Administration will be required.
"The goal is translating this from research to patients," Repka said.
