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esearchers, under the direction of Kit Parker, the Tarr Family Professor of Bioengineering & Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), along with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, have jointly developed two new nanofiber wound dressings that have been found to dramatically accelerate healing and improve tissue regeneration. During the 1970s, scientists first discovered that the wound healing process of fetal skin tissue possessed the highest levels of a protein known as fibronectin, which forms a matrix to promote a cell-binding connection. The fibronectin has two structures: globular, which is found in the blood, and fibrous, which is found in the tissue. In addition, they found that wounds sustained in utero, before the third trimester of babies still in the womb, healed without scarring. Until recently, the research had struggled to replicate the unique qualities of fetal skin, even though the fibrous fibronectin held the most promise for wound healing. Therefore, the early focus was on the globular structure, which was the easier of the two to replicate. Building on research from the '70s, Parker's team began developing two different types of nanofiber dressings that use naturally occurring proteins to promote healing and regrow tissue. Fibronectin Fiber Nanofiber Dressings In the first dressing, the researchers created a fibrous fibronectin fiber, mimicking the globular fibronectin found in the blood. Parker's Disease Biophysics Group developed a new manufacturing platform for this project, a Rotary Jet- Spinning (RJS) device. The RJS platform works much like a cotton candy machine. The globular fibronectin polymer solution is dissolved into a solvent, and is loaded into the reservoir of the machine. As the device spins, the centrifugal force causes the solution to be pushed out through an opening. As the material leaves the reservoir, the solvent evaporates, the polymers harden, and globular protein is formed into small, thin fibers. These fibers can then be collected to form the wound dressing. The wound healing process begins as the dressing integrates into the wound, and acts like a scaffold, recruiting different stem cells that are required for tissue regeneration. Parker's team found that wounds treated with the fibronectin dressing showed an 84 percent tissue restoration within 20 days, compared to 55.6 percent in wounds treated with a standard dressing. The fibronectin dressings even showed the regrowth of hair follicles, one of the biggest challenges in the field of wound healing. Soy-based Nanofiber Dressings The second dressing, made from soy protein, contains both estrogen-like molecules, which have been shown to accelerate wound healing, and bioactive molecules similar to those that build and support human cells. The soy and cellulose-based dressings, made from cellulose acetate and soy protein hydrolysate, demonstrated a 72 percent increase in healing over wounds using no dressings, and a 21 percent increase in healing over wounds dressed without soy protein. Parker's research shows that both dressings have advantages in wound healing. Soy-based nanofibers are inexpensive to create, making them a good option for large-scale usage like burns. The fibronectin dressings can be used for smaller wounds on the face and hands, where prevention of scarring is important. l EDUCATION | HARVARD Physical & Emotional Benefits Research on Wound Dressings Shows Promise for Accelerated Healing. By Kathlyn Swantko Kathlyn Swantko, president of the FabricLink Network, created TheTechnicalCenter.com for Industry networking and marketing of specialty textiles, and FabricLink.com for consumer education involving everything fabric. R A tissue section, 14 days post-wounding, shows hair follicles regenerating at the center of the wound. Regrowing hair follicles is one of the biggest challenges in wound healing. Image courtesy of the Disease Biophysics Group at Harvard University. For more information on the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering's research on "Wound Dressings that Show Promise for Accelerated Healing," contact Kit Parker, Professor of Bioengineering & Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), at: kkparker@g.harvard.edu, (617) 495-2850. FabricLink.com TheTechnicalCenter.com "We have been using the FabricLink Network for over 10 years and it has consistently been one the top digital drivers to our site, and a great source of information for trade and consumers alike." Lisa Hardy North America Marketing Manager Teflon™ textile finishes, Teflon™ fabric protector, The Chemours Company Why clients are excited about the benefits of The FabricLink Network Partnership Opportunities: Kristi Rummel kristi@rummelmedia.com 608.435.6220 Editorial Opportunities: Kathy Swantko kgswantko@fabricklink.com 818.345.7501 How will they find you, if you're not there? The FabricLink Network THE Networking / Education Search Engine for ALL Things Textile Related! FL-TTC-TI-2016_Layout 1 2/24/16 7:55 AM Page 1 textileinsight.com March/April 2019 ~ Textile Insight • 33

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