New Brazilian nanoparticle attacks chronic wounds on two fronts: controlling inflammation and accelerating skin regeneration.
By Kétila Grolli
You know that cut on the tip of your finger that you forget about in a few days? For many people, this wound heals quickly. But, for those who have chronic wounds, like ulcers caused by diabetes, for example, this is a serious problem that can take years to heal. This healing nightmare affects about 2 percent of the global population, but nanotechnology seems to be bringing a new hope.
One of the great challenges of medical research is tissue regeneration: how to make the tissue be repaired by the body itself. That is where a recent research from the University of São Paulo (USP) of Ribeirão Preto comes in. The researchers developed a microscopic vehicle capable of attacking the problem on two fronts.
The problem with chronic wounds
To understand how the new technology works, we first need to look at the problem. Why, after all, do these wounds simply not heal?
The answer is that the body paralyzes in a cycle of inflammation that never ends; it is always in a state of alert. The body becomes a chaotic environment and, in it, an enzyme called metalloproteinase-9 (or just MMP-9) emerges. MMP-9 helps the body to remodel tissues, heal wounds, and move defense cells. However, in chronic wounds, the organism loses control and starts to produce this enzyme in excess, leading to the degradation of fundamental proteins for the reconstruction of the skin.
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A microscopic task force
To reverse this scenario, USP scientists developed a lipid nanoparticle (a tiny capsule made of fat) that was incorporated into a hydrogel. The hydrogel works as a protective base that sticks to the wound, thus ensuring that the treatment is not lost and that it is gradually released into the skin. This nanoparticle carries two strategies that work at the same time: resveratrol and siRNA.
Resveratrol is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties used in cosmetic formulations. Here, it has a dual mission, that of calming the constant inflammation and of helping local cells create new collagen, which is fundamental for the closing of the wound.
As for siRNA, a small RNA molecule, it acts as a biological switch. It has the role of giving a genetic command so that the exaggerated production of MMP-9 is turned off. With MMP-9 silenced and the cells producing collagen, the wound has the necessary environment to rebuild itself.
The future of wound treatment
This research is a huge breakthrough for laboratory tests. The scientists did tests on simulated skin lesions, which regenerated completely in just 72 hours. This is the impact that can help patients who have suffered for years with diabetic ulcers. Quick healing can mean the end of suffering, pain, and limitations. It can reduce the ever-constant risk of severe infections, restoring their quality of life.
Now, after the encouraging result on the bench, the next steps for the research team include tests on 3D human skin models, to later reach tests on animals. When safety and efficacy are guaranteed, the research will be ready to reach hospitals and help those in need.
This study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.
Reference
Morais, M. F., Silvestrini, A. V. P., Depieri, L. V., da Silva, U. J., Ramos, A. P., & Bentley, M. V. L. B. (2026). Multifunctional hybrid lipid-polymeric nanoparticle enabling resveratrol and siRNA co-delivery for enhanced cutaneous wound repair. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 266, 115816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115816
Featured image is by Theen Moy on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
About the Author
Kétila Grolli is an eighth-semester undergraduate biotechnology student at UFPel, Brazil. She conducts undergraduate research in a nanotechnology laboratory and has internship experience in molecular biology and biochemistry.
