Using nanoparticles to improve healing of chronic wounds in older adults
Official title: Protease Resistant Growth Factor Nanoparticles for Chronic Wound Healing
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11301475 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at tiny particles that can help deliver healing substances to stubborn wounds, especially for older adults dealing with issues like diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores, to make it easier for them to heal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $331,468 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG077426-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301475 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults suffering from chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, or pressure ulcers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute wounds or those not experiencing chronic wound conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing nanoparticles that deliver growth factors to chronic wounds, particularly in older adults who are prone to conditions like diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers. The approach aims to protect these growth factors from being degraded by proteases found in chronic wound environments, which often hinder effective treatment. By testing these nanoparticles in preclinical models, the research seeks to enhance the healing process and improve outcomes for patients suffering from difficult-to-treat wounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for chronic wounds, reducing the need for drastic surgical interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using growth factors for wound healing, but this approach with nanoparticles is innovative and aims to address specific challenges in translating these therapies to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koria, Piyush — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Koria, Piyush
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunomodulatory therapy to speed up healing after oral cavity injuries in kids
A new approach using a drug called FTY720 aims to improve healing and reduce pain after oral injuries or palate surgery in children.
-
Aiming to slow dangerous lung inflammation to help fight bacterial infections like tuberculosis
A patient-facing program tests whether stopping a specific inflammatory cell (Spp1+ macrophages) from overreacting can help control tuberculosis and possibly improve outcomes in other inflammatory diseases.
-
Engineered protein materials to study wound healing and blood vessels
A researcher team at the University of New England is studying how the environment around a protein changes its behavior to better understand wound healing and blood vessel formation.
-
Understanding how healing tissue uses tiny messengers and scaffolds to repair wounds
A study to learn how cells talk to each other and how tiny vesicles and the extracellular matrix help skin wounds heal better.
-
Hormone signals and sex differences in how wounds heal
This grant explores how male- and female-specific hormones affect wound healing and scarring, with the goal of improving treatments for people who heal poorly.
-
Therapeutic extracellular vesicles to boost skin wound healing
A research grant is exploring how tiny cell messengers called extracellular vesicles can be engineered to improve skin wound repair in injury models.
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.