Creating pain-free burn dressings that dissolve on demand
Official title: On Demand Dissoluble Supramolecular Hydrogels: Towards Pain Free Burn Dressings
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11045657 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new kind of burn dressing that melts away easily and painlessly when it's time to change it, helping to keep burn patients comfortable and reduce the risk of infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $476,778 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081529-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045657 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals of all ages who have sustained burn injuries and require dressing changes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with burn injuries that do not require dressing changes or those who are allergic to components of the hydrogel may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of burn dressing made from a special hydrogel that can dissolve when needed, allowing for easy and pain-free removal from burn wounds. The dressing is designed to have antimicrobial properties to help prevent infections and is self-healing to ensure it remains effective during use. By addressing the significant pain associated with traditional dressing changes, this innovative approach aims to improve the overall care and recovery experience for burn patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the pain and complications associated with burn dressing changes, leading to better recovery outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing advanced wound care technologies, but this specific approach using dissolvable supramolecular hydrogels is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Usta, Osman Berk — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Usta, Osman Berk
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.