Health
Scientists unveil ‘living bandage’ that could dramatically speed wound healing
A look back at the medical miracles of 2025
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to highlight 2025 breakthroughs, from a pineapple-derived burn cream to a newly approved heart procedure.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new “living bandage” could soon revolutionize how doctors treat serious injuries by accelerating the healing process, according to new research reported by SWNS.
The high-tech patch was developed by researchers at Rice University in Texas. It acts like an around-the-clock mini factory, continuously delivering healing proteins directly to different types of wounds, the same source noted.
Caring for chronic wounds is often a challenge for doctors, as it’s difficult to deliver steady, localized signals that tell the body to repair its own tissue, the researchers said.
POPULAR FRUIT MAY HELP PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM THE SUN, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
The body naturally relies on small chemical messengers called cytokines to control inflammation and healing. However, traditional treatments like ointments or injections usually fail, as fragile proteins break down too quickly or wash away from the injury site.
To solve the problem, the research team created a cell-based patch that stays on top of the wound. Inside the device, scientists placed engineered cells programmed to manufacture and secrete three specific healing cytokines, known as IL-10, IL-12 and Transforming Growth Factor-beta.
A living bandage patch delivers healing proteins from engineered cells to accelerate wound healing, according to new research by American scientists. (Jared Jones/Rice University/SWNS)
These cells are safely housed inside protective material that acts like a shield — letting vital nutrients and therapeutic proteins pass through to the skin while keeping the body’s immune system from attacking the engineered cells inside.
The system also uses a special hydrogel that helps the patch blend naturally with the wound, SWNS reported. It may be updated eventually, the research team indicated, to work alongside electronic components.
HEART ATTACK DAMAGE REVERSED WITH INJECTABLE RNA THERAPY, STUDY FINDS
In lab tests on rodents and pigs, the patch successfully accelerated wound healing. By analyzing the genetic material of the cells, the researchers confirmed the treatment successfully activated the processes needed for tissue repair.
Professor Omid Veiseh, faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad and leader of the laboratory development, said the animal trials showed strong potential for the approach.
“By maintaining a consistent presence of these signaling molecules at the wound site, we can more effectively engage the body’s natural healing response,” the scientists said. (iStock)
“The findings show how continuous, localized cytokine delivery can support key biological pathways involved in tissue repair,” Veiseh said, according to SWNS.
SURGEONS KEEP MAN ALIVE WITHOUT LUNGS, PAVING NEW PATH TO TRANSPLANT
“By maintaining a consistent presence of these signaling molecules at the wound site, we can more effectively engage the body’s natural healing response.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
He said genetic analysis “revealed coordinated upregulation of genes associated with tissue regeneration and immune modulation, providing a mechanistic basis for the functional improvements observed.”
Researcher Elizabeth Kelley of Rice University holds a cytokine-secreting patch designed to accelerate wound healing by delivering healing proteins from engineered cells continuously. (Jared Jones/Rice University/SWNS)
The platform is fully customizable, so the engineered cells can easily be adapted to produce different combinations of proteins and growth factors, depending on what each individual patient needs.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Study co-author Christian Schreib, Ph.D., noted that “the ability to tune both the type and timing of cytokine delivery opens the door to more precise control over the healing process.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Schreib said that “future work will focus on expanding the flexibility of the platform, including approaches such as optogenetic control” — using light to control cell activity — “to regulate cytokine secretion in real time.”
The technology is still in an early stage and has not yet been tested on human patients.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Further research is needed to understand how the technology will be used on humans.
The study was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Top stories
→ 8 common food preservatives linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
→ Study suggests latest COVID vaccine may have unexpected health benefit
→ Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases
Common food preservatives may contribute to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to a large French study. (iStock)
Health challenges
→ Former reality star opens up about new diagnosis after years-long health ordeal
→ Popular mommy blogger dies at 48 two years after devastating cancer diagnosis
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Easy improvements
→ Want to age better? Researchers say 4-minute routine may help prevent dangerous falls
→ One question may reveal whether your body is getting the rest it needs
Feeling older than your current age could be a sign that you’re not getting enough quality sleep, according to new research. (iStock)
Conversation starters
→ Dad jokes may be good for your brain in one surprising way, experts say
→ Measles-infected traveler may have exposed passengers at LAX and nearby hotel
→ No sex for 10 weeks? Championship team’s playoff strategy raises eyebrows
Health
Switching from cigarettes to vapes linked to higher risk of major eye diseases, large study finds
US cigarette smoking drops to record low, vaping and nicotine pouch use surges
Fox News medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study reporting US adult cigarette smoking rates dropped to a record low of 9.9% in 2024. Siegel warns about the addictive nature of vaping and nicotine pouches, which contain high levels of nicotine. He expresses concern over potential GI tract and heart issues, stressing social media’s role in promoting these products to younger generations.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a massive nationwide study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that smokeless alternatives could increase the risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine altogether.
Researchers from the Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed health data from a group of 179,273 adults through the Korean National Health Insurance Service, according to a press release.
All participants had smoked traditional cigarettes between 2011 and 2012 and then quit smoking by 2018 or 2019, they reported.
SINGLE WORKOUT CUTS CRAVINGS, OFFERING NEW HOPE FOR SMOKERS TRYING TO QUIT
To ensure a fair comparison, the researchers paired up participants who shared similar backgrounds, including their age, gender, medical history, existing health conditions and general lifestyle habits.
Switching from cigarettes to electronic vapes is often seen as a healthier move, but a large study suggests it could pose a risk to eye health. (iStock)
This process created a balanced group of 32,316 matched participants, who were divided into two categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products and those who transitioned to smokeless nicotine products, such as vapes.
The researchers followed the participants for an average of 4.6 years to determine whether they developed eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and focus-related eyesight disorders.
5 WAYS TO PRESERVE YOUR VISION AS YOU AGE, ACCORDING TO AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Over the tracking period, the group experienced a total of 6,328 major eye disease events. People who quit nicotine entirely had the lowest disease rate in the study, at 41.1 cases per 1,000 person-years (a measure that accounts for both the number of people in the study and how long they were followed).
In comparison, that rate rose to 44 cases for individuals who had switched over to smokeless alternatives like vapes.
The people included in the study were divided into two main categories: complete quitters who stopped using all nicotine products, and switchers who transitioned to smokeless tobacco or nicotine products, like vapes. (iStock)
Ultimately, the data showed that switching to alternative nicotine products carried a steady 7% increased risk of serious eye diseases compared to quitting nicotine completely.
FOOD CHOICES THAT CAN BOOST YOUR VISION AND PROTECT AGAINST EYE DISEASE
Most notably, those who switched faced a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Additionally, those who ditched cigarettes for vapes had a 7% higher risk of developing refractive and accommodation disorders, which affect the eye’s ability to focus clearly.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted.
“These findings challenge the assumption that substituting noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products for conventional cigarettes is visually harmless,” the researchers noted. (iStock)
The authors did point out a few limitations of the research. Because this was a study looking back at health insurance data, it cannot definitively prove that vaping directly causes eye damage.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Additionally, the study relied on people filling out questionnaires about their own smoking and vaping habits, which can sometimes lead to underreporting or simple memory errors.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Still, the researchers concluded the findings suggest that replacing cigarettes with alternative nicotine products may not eliminate the risk of certain eye diseases.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Mississippi4 minutes ago‘Mississippi firsts’ from Neshoba County Fair
-
Missouri6 minutes agoLake of the Ozarks ranks among cleanest US lakes, study finds
-
Montana12 minutes agoMissoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for June 27
-
Nebraska19 minutes agoExtreme Heat Watches and Heat Advisories issued across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota
-
Nevada21 minutes agoNevada QB Thaddeus Thatcher commits to Oregon State, breaks down his decision
-
New Hampshire26 minutes agoGoing with the flow in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region – The Boston Globe
-
New Jersey34 minutes agoMore than 681,000 New Jersey children to receive Summer EBT benefits – WRNJ Radio
-
New Mexico36 minutes agoNew Mexico AG launches criminal investigation into DEA over allegations agents let fentanyl flood state
