3D pen ‘paints’ healing gel directly onto wounds to hasten the healing process

The bandage that is generally applied to a cut just covers the wound and guards against bacterial infection. What if, however, we could apply a healing ink directly to wounds to hasten the healing process?

Researchers at Nanjing University in China are investigating this with the help of their PAINT technology, which stands for “portable bioactive ink for tissue healing.” The high-tech method extrudes sodium alginate gel directly onto the skin’s surface using a 3D printing pen.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), a component produced by white blood cells that aids in reducing inflammation and forming new blood vessels when people suffer injuries, are combined with sodium alginate gel to create a product that hastens the healing process.

A thick, gelatinous ink that may be used on cuts of any size and shape is created when the two combine at the pen’s tip. What’s best? Human epithelial cell studies revealed that the ink promoted the growth of new blood vessels and decreased the production of inflammatory compounds around incisions.

Additionally, PAINT shown the capacity to increase the formation of collagen fiber when tested on lab mice. Impressively, the critters’ massive wounds were almost fully repaired in just 12 days, in contrast to how poorly the control group without the gel was patched up.

Instead of struggling with bandages or plasters or needing to go to the hospital for sutures, treating an accident may soon be as simple as squeezing some gel into the wound.