Self-healing polymer offers new possibilities for medical dressings

Scientists at the University of Reading have developed a polymer material that can heal itself at body temperature

The new polymer material opens the door to new self-healing wound dressings for use in medicine, according to the university.

The new material, a supramolecular polyurethane, ‘flows' like a liquid when cut or scraped, filling in the damage in a couple of hours before its molecules bind together to become solid again.  

While self-healing plastics have been developed before, the new material is safe to humans and works at temperatures as low as 37 degrees Celsius, making it ideal for use in healthcare the university said.

The EPSRC-sponsored research was conducted at Reading and Oxford universities, and was led by Wayne Hayes, from the University of Reading's school of chemistry, food and pharmacy.

Hayes said: "Anyone who has had to replace an old bandage knows it can be very painful and can easily damage healing skin.

"Our work shows that this new material not only repairs itself at body temperature, but is non-toxic, so is an ideal material for use in healthcare settings.

“This material could maintain a sterile barrier as part of a wound dressing while constantly repairing and renewing itself, reducing the need for replacement.

"It could even be adapted to naturally break down over time, similar to dissolvable stitches, making it suitable for internal use in surgery as well as for dressing wounds."

Other potential applications include self-healing vehicle paint, or as coating for mobile phones, which could repair scratches or scuffs automatically with only mild heat, according to the university.

The research is published with open access in the journal Chemical Science.