Project Title: Unleashing Nature’s Potential: Using Grape Skin Extract and
Sustainable Materials for Advanced Chronic Wound Therapy
Article author and Principal Investigator of the Project:
Dr. Edina Avdović
Senior Research Associate, Institute for Information Technologies, University of Kragujevac
According to an estimation of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut, there are approximately 700,000 people in Serbia today with diabetes wounds or at risk of developing them. These wounds tend to be accompanied by serious complications with potentially deadly outcomes and therefore present a major medical problem. People with diabetes suffer from weakened capacity of wound healing which can result in inflammation of chronic wounds and infections. Consequently, there is an urgent need for development of formulations on natural basis with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative properties, which speed up the wound healing process and, at the same time, represent a safer and more sustainable alternative to antibiotics. For the mentioned problems to be resolved, research has been focused on the development of biomaterials such as bioactive hyDr.ogels. Bioactive hyDr.ogels offer several advantages compared to already existing wound treatment. They enable precise control of the controlled release of bioactive compounds, which can contribute to prolonged action and more efficient use of active ingredients. Apart from that, hyDr.ogels also have the capacity to retain water, which can create a humid environment favorable for the wound healing process. Their flexibility and formability also make them appropriate for different kinds of wounds, including those that are located on hard-to-reach parts of the body. Such materials have the potential to accelerate wound healing and prevent or reduce infections, which is of great significance when it comes to patients suffering from diabetes but also patients who suffer from other types of chronic wounds.
Project titled “Unleashing Nature’s Potential: Using Grape Skin Extract and Sustainable Materials for Advanced Chronic Wound Therapy”, (GraSP_MAT) is focused on connecting the economy of Serbia with science to resolve the global chronic wound problem and to maintain the key role of an interdisciplinary approach in resolving medical challenges. The GraSP_MAT team has decided to research the potential uses of grape skin extract as a replacement for antibiotics with the objective of wound healing. Given that grape extracts, and especially grape skin extracts, contain numerous bioactive substances including flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins that are known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, they have significant potential in development of new therapies that could be helpful in improving the wound healing process and reducing the need for conventional medical solutions. Therefore, the main objective of this project is extraction and preservation of bioactive compounds from grape skins, which are waste products of the Šumadija wine industry, and their incorporation into hyDr.ogels and subsequent examination of application of these materials in advanced treatment of chronic wounds. The development of bioactive hyDr.ogels with controlled release can offer an innovative approach in treatment of chronic wounds, especially considering the biological features of skin extracts of autochthonous grape varieties. Controlled release of these compounds can assist in accelerating the healing process, reduce inflammation and prevent infections, all of which are key factors in treating diabetes-related and other chronic wounds.
Advantages of hydrogels based on grape skin extract are:
1) An alternative to antibiotics and other conventional medical solutions. HyDr.ogels based on grape skin extracts can be an alternative to the use of antibiotics due to their natural antioxidant and antimicrobial features. Reduction of antibiotic use helps to overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance which presents a major global medical challenge. 2) Reduction of hard waste. Limiting the use of antibiotics and replacing them with hyDr.ogels can reduce generation of medical waste and thus contribute to the reduction of the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. This is particularly important because medical waste is often contaminated and can pose a major ecological problem. 3) Conservation of natural resources. Using the grape skin extract instead of synthetical substances or antibiotics contributes to the conservation of natural resources. Grape skin can be obtained as a byproduct of the Serbian wine industry which reduces the need for synthetic resources. 4) Reduction of contamination and global warming. Reduction of antibiotic use and better management of medical waste can help reduce water and soil contamination and, therefore, global warming. This approach contributes to the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Results of our investigation will directly contribute to adDr.essing diabetes and chronic wound problems by improving the quality of life of diabetes patients and reducing the risk of serious complications. This project has the potential to provide concrete benefits to the medical sector and become a key resource in fighting against complications caused by chronic wounds. In addition, this research stresses the importance of strengthening the bonds between sectors that are often considered separate, and contributes to the synergy between Serbia’s wine industry and scientific community. It enables exchange of knowledge and resources which can be crucial for obtaining sustainable development and promotion of both the wine industry and science. GraSP_MAT has the potential to bring concrete benefits to both the Serbian wine industry and the scientific community while simultaneously adDr.essing challenges in the field of chronic wound healing. Additionally, the GraSP_MAT project, with its focus on resolving the global issue of chronic wounds has the potential to bring specific benefits to the global community as well. Using these extracts in combination with hyDr.ogels based on natural polymers in treatment of chronic wounds not only offers a way to maximize the use of natural resources but it also provides possibilities for the development of new therapeutic options that are safer and are not prone to antibiotic resistance. In this way, the use of antibiotics in wound treatment would be avoided, which is one of the main goals of the global action plan for antimicrobial resistance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Specifically, the results of our project will have a positive impact not only on the health of patients, but they will also significantly contribute to industry, economy, environment, society, and further development of the scientific community. This project can stimulate further investigation of application of polyphenols derived from various natural resources, broadening the array of possibilities for the development of new therapeutic solutions. Ultimately, this project can become an example of how scientific research innovations can have long term and positive influence on the society and the world.
Program:
Program for Еxcellent Projects of Young Researchers and Scientists in the Early Stage of Career – PROMIS 2023
Scientific and Research Organizations:
- Institute for Information Technologies, University of Kragujevac
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Project Budget:
EUR 146,800
Project Team Members:
- Dr. Jovana Bradić, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
- Dr. Anica Petrovic, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
- MSc Marko Antonijević, Research Assistant, Institute for Information Technologies, University of Kragujevac
- MSc Aleksandar Kočović, Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
- MSc Marko Simić, PhD Student, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac