University of Mississippi Develops 3D Printed Wound Patches From Crustacean Shells — Could Transform Chronic Wound Treatment

3D Printed Wound Care Gets a Natural Boost

Chronic wounds affect an estimated 1.67 per 1,000 individuals worldwide, including diabetic ulcers and pressure sores that can linger for months or even years. Researchers at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy are tackling this challenge with an innovative approach: 3D printed medicated patches made from a surprisingly common source — the exoskeletons of crustaceans.

Chitosan: The Biopolymer Revolution

The base material for these wound scaffolds is chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is naturally present in crustacean shells and insects. This biopolymer has attracted significant attention for wound healing due to its unique combination of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial characteristics.

With time, the scaffold is going to be absorbed into the skin. And it is an inactive material, so we do not have to worry about side effects or toxic residuals, explained Nouf Alshammari, doctoral candidate and one of the study authors.

Beyond Traditional Dressings

Conventional wound dressings often suffer from insufficient moisture balance, limited bioactivity, poor mechanical strength, and difficulty sustaining the release of therapeutic agents. The 3D printed approach solves these issues by allowing precise customization of both the medication and geometry tailored to the specific dimensions of any wound.

The research team combined chitosan with Para-Coumaric acid (P-CA), a phenolic compound found in fruits, cereals, tea, and wine. They also incorporated polycaprolactone (PCL) for mechanical stability and polyethylene oxide (PEO) for improved hydrophilicity and processability.

Field-Ready Applications

One of the most promising applications is field-ready medical treatment. These could be printed in the field for military applications, said Michael Repka, distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and drug delivery. If you have a generator that can run these 3D printers, you can print the scaffold you need based on what kind of wound has occurred.

The biodegradable nature also means internal applications will not require a second incision to remove the material after healing.

What is Next

Before these 3D-printed scaffolds can be deployed in medical settings, they must undergo extensive human clinical trials and FDA review.