A breakthrough in wound healing has been discovered by researchers at the University College London (UCL). Kasein, a protein found in cow’s milk, has been found to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it an ideal component for wound dressings. The team of scientists led by Dr. Jubair Ahmed conducted experiments on rats to test the effectiveness of kasein-infused dressings. The results showed that wounds treated with kasein-infused dressings healed significantly faster than those treated with regular dressings or no dressings at all.
To create the kasein-infused dressings, the researchers mixed pure kasein with a biodegradable polyester called Polycaprolacton (PCL) and used a process called Druckgyration to create bandage-like fibers. The fibers were then used to create the kasein-infused dressings. The rats were divided into three groups, with one group treated with kasein-infused dressings, another with regular PCL dressings, and the third left untreated. The wounds were photographed and measured after three, seven, ten, and fourteen days to monitor the healing process.
The results showed that wounds treated with kasein-infused dressings had only 5.2% of their original size after fourteen days, while wounds treated with regular dressings had 31.1% of their original size, and wounds left untreated had 45.6% of their original size. The kasein-infused dressings were also found to be non-toxic and had lower concentrations of immune-related molecules around the treated wounds. While more research is needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of kasein-infused dressings in humans, the initial results are promising.
