Wound healing is a huge clinical problem. Problematic outcomes of skin wounds can range from under-healing (e.g., chronic/non-healing wounds) to over-healing (e.g., scarring).
Radiation therapy is a common option in diseases like breast cancer, but can also cause significant damage to the skin. Permanent scarring and fibrosis can result, with both aesthetic and functional consequences for cancer patients.
A team of Stanford researchers has developed a precisely controlled hydrogel drug delivery system that prevents scarring and promotes wound healing in large, full thickness wounds.