Researchers at Northwestern University have been inspired by "Laminin," and invented a hydrogel "Band-Aid" that can help wounds heal quickly. This new research achievement was published in the "Journal of the National Academy of Sciences".

The researchers said that laminin is a protein found in human tissues such as the skin that can send signals to cells to promote differentiation and adhesion.

A fragment of laminin called A5G81 is critical for wound healing. They added A5G81 to an antioxidant molecule, and the resulting material self-assembles at body temperature to form a "scaffold" that enhances tissue regeneration at the wound site. The use of protein fragments rather than whole proteins to make this material is because the former is relatively easy to synthesize and the production cost is lower.

According to reports, this substance is applied to the wound in liquid form, and then the temperature of the receptor quickly solidifies into a gel-like shape, so that it can conform to wounds of various shapes and depths and will not affect the newly healed tissue. After the wound heals, this hydrogel can be washed off with cold saline. Ordinary "band-aids" need to be replaced frequently and may cause trauma again.

For diabetes, the researchers used animal experiments in diabetic mice. No side effects have been found and the hydrogel can accelerate wound healing by 33%. Researchers plan to conduct more extensive animal experiments.