Growth Factors-Rich Evs-Functionalized Graphene-On-Hydrogel Based Skin Bioactive Regeneration Scaffolds( I )

Despite an abundant supply of wound dressings, a real need remains to improve efficiency, quality of healing, and decrease the global costs induced by wound treatment. Nanotechnology provides unique opportunities to tackle wound healing thanks to the physical characteristics, versatility and tunability of nanostructures, making them suitable for their relevant use during the different phases of tissue repair for both diagnostics and therapeutics. The GSkin project addresses the numerous skin regeneration challenges through the development of a theranostic graphene-on-hydrogel bandage loaded with platelet derived extracellular vesicles (p-EVs), the physiological healing cells of the body. The use of p-EVs is a newly- discovered potent way of cell-cell communications, acting as physiological and fully biocompatible transporting cargos of functional molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines or miRNA, capable to cross tissue barriers and promote tissue repair. A flexible and stretchable graphene-on-hydrogel matrix will be used as a reservoir for p-EVs. Graphene-based field effect transistors will allow monitor the wound healing state via temperature and pH measurements. Integration of electrothermal nanoactuators, which will be activated via a telehealth approach, will allow on-demand delivery of sterile-filtered p-EVs.

The combination with the early-stage tissue repairing properties of graphene will result in improved wound healing. GSkin will be developed by a multidisciplinary and intersectoral consortium composed of academic partners, medical doctors and specialists in chronic and infected ulcers in France, Belgium and Taiwan as well as a company in France focusing on graphene coated wound bandages. Combining the synergistic properties of a wound healing nanomaterial such as graphene working in addition as sensor and actuator and a functional biological healing component, p-EVs, as proposed in GSkin, is still unique and will be a significant step forward in the development of advanced wound dressings for difficult healing wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.