University develops new hydrogel for wound care

Ian Bolland spoke to Malika Shertay, who has been part of the Nazarbayev University project developing a new wound healing hydrogel.

A research team from National Laboratory Astana at Nazarbayev University is developing a wound healing hydrogel to improve the recovery of patients with skin burns and injuries.

The product, AmnioSkin, uses simple technology and natural components and shown promising results following testing on animal subjects showing no allergic reactions. Once it is commercialised, patients will be able to purchase it from local pharmacies.

Explaining the reasons behind developing the gel, Malika Shertay who worked on the project, said: “Our main chief scientist went to one of the surgeon conferences and noticed the main ingredient was being used to treat some eye conditions.”

The product can treat class one and two grade burns such as thermal or clinical burns. The University is hoping that clinical trials can begin in the next year once it has secured funding, with the goal of commercialisation within the next five years.

Shertay acknowledged the different ways it can be provided in different countries depending on regulations of specific countries. In Kazakhstan it can be provided as an ointment and sold in pharmacies.

If the product is going to the United States, the aim is to work with clinics to allow doctors to prescribe the treatment given the current regulations. So far the UK market has not been explored.

She continued: “We added additional properties to the ingredients. It can relieve pain first of all, and since it’s hydrogel it will keep moisture. If you live in a hot region its consistency will not change, it will not expire in a short period of time. Due to our unique development pathways, the product has three years of shelf life and also has anti-bacterial ingredients.”

The research team has won full sponsorship to attend the Business Incubation Programme, which supports innovators in international science and technology looking to expand their start-ups into the US market. The team includes researchers Sholpan Askarova and Bauyrzhan Umbayev, and product marketing manager Malika Shertay.