Chronic wounds and pressure injuries create significant burdens for patients, providers, and the health care system. Not only can these wounds be painful for patients, but they tend to increase the risk of serious infection, hinder recovery, compromise health outcomes, negatively impact quality of life, and extend the length of hospital stays.
Looking for a way to reduce the impact of pressure injuries and chronic wounds across the province, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is working with NanoTess – an Alberta-based material science company that offers nanotechnology-enabled solutions to enhance health outcomes.
Through nanotechnology – the manipulation of matter at a scale that is 1,000 times smaller than bacteria – NanoTess transforms elements that are present or can naturally be processed by the body into novel active surfaces known as nanomaterials. One of NanoTess’ nanomaterials, NanoKARE, aims to modulate inflammation, actively support healing, provide a broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect, and ultimately help chronic wounds achieve closure.
AHS will be exploring a first of its kind advanced nanotechnology gel, NanoSALV Catalytic, that contains properties of NanoKARE to create an easy to apply gel designed for the management and treatment of chronic wounds as well as acute wounds, minor wounds, minor burns and skin irritations.
With no specialized knowledge or equipment needed to use NanoSALV, the technology is being seamlessly and effectively integrated into existing wound care practices with the aim to:
- Advance active healing by reducing the threshold needed to achieve optimal healing outcomes.
- Provide safe and effective broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection allowing the technology to support the wound through the entire wound care continuum unlike short-term antiseptics/antimicrobial products.
- Empower patients through an easy to apply product for self / at home use.
- Empower health care providers with an additional tool to improve their preferred wound care management practices.
- Reduce the need for prolonged wound treatment; reducing stagnant, maintenance wound stages.
AHS is evaluating the product across multiple health care settings including specialized wound clinics, long-term care, senior-living centers, and a rehabilitation hospital that each have an increased prevalence of wounds, including chronic and acute.
