HYnanoFAB – project summary

Survival in the most severely burned patients is often accompanied with orthopedic, neurologic and metabolic complications and significant psychosocial challenges, whereas the healing time can be prolonged for months or years. Wound infection, which further increases the local tissue damage, is a common complication, and appropriate clinical treatments can play a fundamental role in reducing mortality rates associated to the injury. There are many limitations regarding antimicrobial activity of the topical devices that are currently used for preventing infections, promoting tissue regeneration, and minimizing pain and scar formation, and various strategies have been used to enhance the treatment of unhealed wounds. The general objective of this project is to develop a new antibacterial biocomposite hydrogel containing zinc oxide nanoparticles and curcumin-loaded nanofibers able to enhance the effectiveness of wound healing process caused by burns. The original approach proposed in this project aims to develop an complex formulation able to simulate the extracellular matrix of soft tissues that will be designed to perform multiple tasks: good capability of absorbing contaminated exudates and providing suitable microenvironment during the wound healing, dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, controlled release of the loaded Curcumin to the site of the burn wound improving the healing process.