Multifunctional Flowable Skin Matrices for Healing, Immunity, and Infection Control in Hard-to-Heal Wounds
Official title: Engineering Multifunctional Flowable Skin Matrices for Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Infection Control in Hard-to-Heal Wounds
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11463628 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new skin-matrix product is being developed to help tough diabetic wounds heal while preventing infection with safer, longer-lasting components.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $423,201 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB036854-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463628 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diabetes and hard-to-heal wounds that are prone to infection or slow to heal.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with wounds not characterized as hard-to-heal or those without diabetes may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project aims to create injectable, flowable skin matrices that mimic natural skin and gradually release reparative components from royal jelly and medical-grade honey. These matrices support the growth of skin cells, boost immune responses, and fight resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The team uses a customizable hydrogel system that gels quickly, can be liquefied for application, and provides sustained delivery of key healing molecules. The work builds on pilot data showing improved cell survival, tissue regeneration, and macrophage function with the grafted materials. If successful, this approach could offer a safer alternative for long-term use in hard-to-heal wounds, potentially reducing amputations and infection risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with difficult-to-heal wounds could experience faster healing and lower infection risk with a safer, longer-lasting wound treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests natural product–based wound care can improve healing, but this exact multifunctional hydrogel approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hong, Song — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Hong, Song
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.