Kitchen spices such as turmeric and black pepper could revolutionise wound dressings

[Judi Lynn]

Published: Monday 3 June 2024

Nano-fibres made from every day kitchen spices are being spun in the biomedical and tissue engineering laboratory at the University of Bradford to create advanced wound dressings. The fibres, which are finer than spider silk, are being made from turmeric, black pepper, curry leaf, cinnamon and cloves, among others spices.

Tissue engineer Dr Behruz Khaghani, from the Faculty of Engineering and Digital Technologies, mixes molecules extracted from plants with a bio-resorbable polymer (that dissolves harmlessly into the body) to create a jelly-like liquid.
This is then squeezed into an electro-spinning machine, which requires up to 20,000 volts to create a mesh of nano-fibres. It is hoped that because the fibres are plant-based, they will have little or no side effects compared to chemical-based drugs.

Dr Khaghani said: “The fibres create a mesh (scaffolding) which can then be applied to wound dressings to treat a range of conditions but in particular, diabetic ulcers that are otherwise hard to heal.

“The plant extracts we are using have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and during tests they have the same effect on the wound site as conventional drugs - the main difference is, these all come directly from plants. One great advantage is these compounds appear to have similar effects to some chemical-based drugs but without side-effects.

More:
https://www.bradford.ac.uk/news/archive/2024/kitchen-spices-such-as-turmeric-and-black-pepper-could-revolutionise-wound-dressings.php