📰 Zigzag wounds heal 5 times faster, here’s why

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have found that wave-shaped wounds heal faster than straight wounds. For what ? Because shape influences cell movement.

Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists created synthetic wounds, similar to the skin human, to observe cell movement. They found that the cells around wave-shaped wounds move in a whirlwind, while those around straight wounds move in a straight line, parallel to the edges.

According to the NTU team, this swirling motion is essential for “bridging the gaps”. In other words, cells build bridges to heal damaged tissue. This process is faster for wave-shaped injuries.

This is the first time that a link has been established between the bridging of gaps and the speed of wound healing. Scientists hope their findings will help develop more effective strategies to speed up wound healing, thereby improving wound care, tissue repair and recovery. plastic surgery.

One of the important aspects of wound healing is re-epithelialization. It is a process where epithelial cells – a type of cell found on the skin – move to form a bridge between the injury and the skin, thereby closing the gap.

Researchers also observed the healing process of synthetic wounds for 64 hours. They found that the healing efficiency of wave-shaped wounds was almost five times higher than that of straight wounds.

This study thus revealed the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing. Clinicians and surgeons can use this knowledge to develop better medical strategies, such as new incision methods.