Optimized wound dressings that can maintain a prolonged moist environment, with adequate mechanical properties in moist conditions, targeted antibacterial activity, as well as a barrier against wound bacteria. These are the characteristics of the oxygenated nanocellulose gels that are being developed in the OxyPol project – “Oxygenated bioPolymers for biomedical applications”.
The Oxypol project counts with the complementary expertise of RISE PFI (Biopolymers and Biocomposites, Trondheim, Norway), RISE (Biological function, Gothenburg, Sweden) and Oxy Solutions, a biotech company with patented oxygenation technology (Oslo, Norway). OxyPol is funded by the Research Council of Norway.
After 2 years of the project, the team could meet in person at the facilities of RISE in Gothenburg, where they discussed the ongoing activities and planned the next steps in the project. “The meeting was great and most productive. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose what we have discussed and planned, but keywords are antibacterial properties, 3D printing and upscaled production for clinical investigations”, tells Jostein Grip, CTO Oxy Solutions.
“The gels are expected to be an inexpensive therapy option, combining novel optimized nanocellulose from wood and elevated and stable oxygen levels, to form tailor-made dressings for biomedical purposes. The development is performed in ethically appropriate ways, following responsible, research and innovation (RRI) guidelines and strict regulatory work”, aspects that were discussed during the project meeting.
This biobased product is expected to be a clear contribution to society as an increasing number of patients with chronic wounds have been reported. Therefore, the OxyPol project has intensified the work with upscaled production of oxygenated nanocellulose under good manufacturing practices (GMP), for clinical investigations.
Kontaktperson RISE PFI:
Gary Chinga Carrasco, fagansvarlig Biopolymerer og Biokompositter