Electricity Accelerates Chronic Wound Recovery By Threefold, Study Reveals

Besides breathing life into our cities and towns, electricity could have another unexpected utility. Scientists think that electricity has the power to heal chronic wounds faster than imagined.

Wounds are especially hard to heal among people who have medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, and spinal injuries. Such long-term wounds have the potential to become infected and often lead require amputations among patients, making healing a painstaking experience.

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Wounds can heal faster!

In a new study, scientists outlined a method that can heal wounds thrice as fast using electric current. "Chronic wounds are a huge societal problem that we don¡¯t hear a lot about. Our discovery of a method that may heal wounds up to three times faster can be a game changer for diabetic and elderly people, among others, who often suffer greatly from wounds that won¡¯t heal," said Maria Asplun, one of the study's authors and a professor at Chalmers Institute of Technology (CTH).

The electric method to heal wounds is based on a hypothesis that claims the human skin is electrostatic, implying that the cells of our skin are sensitive to electric current. Essentially, then, when cells are placed in an electric field, they begin moving towards the direction of the area.

Also read: Powering Medical Devices From Within: Scientists Turn Blood Sugar Into Electricity

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Based on this understanding, the scientists conducted an experiment wherein a biochip containing skin cells (with properties similar to the human skin cells) was created. They then chose two cells and inflicted damage on them to create wounds. One of these cells healed under an electric field (200mV/mm) while the other was able to heal without any stimulation.

The researchers found that the first cell was able to heal three times faster than the second one. They say that the electric field acts as a guide to skin cells. Without current, the cells tend to move randomly, causing slow healing. With the help of electricity, they align in one direction and head directly to the damaged site, helping a wound heal faster.

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Also read: Bizarre Patent Wants Plane Seats To Zap Anxious Fliers With Electricity

In addition, the scientists noted no side effects on the cultured wounded cells from electric stimulation. This method, its creators say, could be useful in people with medical conditions like diabetes.

What do you think about this fascinating enquiry into healing wounds? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.