No more ugly patches or scars from injuries, promises a newly developed gel
Beauty conscious
people now need
not lose sleep over
scars. Wounds from
injury or an operation. more often
than not leave
behind ugly
reminders in the
form of scars. Now,
A stitch in time researcher Mark
Ferguson at the University of
Manchester UK, offers hope in the form
of a toothpaste-like gel which, if
smeared on the wound, prevents it
from forming a scar, reports New
Scientist, Vol 147, No 1996.
Building on the fact that foetus
wounds heal without a scar, Ferguson
studied the biochemistry of adult
wounds, where he found that adults
produce wound healing compounds -
also called transforming growth factors
beta-1 and beta-2, in excess of what is
required.
The growth factors bind together in
a single molecule called "latency associated peptide" or LAP. The sugars present on the surface of LAP bind to the
fibroblast cells forming the fibrous protein collagen or scar tissue at the site of
the wound. The size of the scar is
directly propotional to the amount of
collagen released.
The solution to the problem lay in
somehow inhibiting coliagen forma-
tion. Ferguson found that a sugar FM
sent on the surface of the LAP - m
nose-6-phosphate - when admig
tered alone could prevent collagen A
mation. This sugar blocks the recepow
sites of LAP by eliminating them totally.
To study the effectiv, M
gel, trials were conducted on pigs
sheep. Ferguson even tested the ;W19
himself by making two identical cutsa
his arm and then applied the gel on
wound leaving the other to heal on
own. -The treated wound is not A
pletely invisible, but it is much, m
less noticiable than the untreated 0ne
he admitted.
Volunteers am awaiting trials via
it will help the Manchester scientist
figure out the correct dose. Hi A
tious,plans include people who have
undergone minor operations and WA
to study the effectiveness of the gel on
more serious cases and bum victims.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.