Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have designed a new bandage treatment – a scaffold, produced by 3D bioprinting – to treat diabetic foot ulcers, which is cost-effective while improving patient outcomes. 

Diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high, is among the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide.  

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is a serious complication of diabetes, affecting about 25% of diabetic patients. When identified, more than 50% are already infected and more than 70% of cases result in lower limb amputation. 

Complex process

The treatment strategy required for the effective healing of DFU is a complex process that requires several combined therapeutic approaches. As a result, there is a significant clinical and economic burden associated in treating DFU. These treatments are often unsuccessful, which leads to lower-limb amputation. 

The research demonstrates outcomes with significant implications for patient quality of life, as well as decreasing the costs and clinical burden in treating DFU. 

Recent research has focused on drug-loaded scaffolds to treat DFU. The scaffold structure is a novel carrier for cell and drug delivery that enhances wound healing.  

The research, published in Springer Link, was presented by Professor Lamprou at the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Workshop, Italy, recently.  

Professor Dimitrios Lamprou, a professor of biofabrication and advanced manufacturing at Queen's School of Pharmacy and corresponding author, said: “These scaffolds are like windows that enable doctors to monitor the healing constantly. This avoids needing to remove them constantly, which can provoke infection and delay the healing process. 

Encourage cell growth

“The ‘frame’ has an antibiotic that helps to ‘kill’ the bacteria infection, and the ‘glass’ that can be prepared by collagen/sodium alginate can contain a growth factor to encourage cell growth. The scaffold has two molecular layers that both play an important role in healing the wound.” 

Lead author Ms Katie Glover, from the Queen’s School of Pharmacy, said: “Using bioprinting technology, we have developed a scaffold with suitable mechanical properties to treat the wound, which can be easily modified to the size of the wound.

"This provides a low-cost alternative to current DFU treatments, which could revolutionise DFU treatment, improving patient outcomes while reducing the economic burden caused by rapidly increasing patient demand as the number of people with diabetes continues to increase every year.”