The research team found a way to use EVs from yogurt, an abundant, inexpensive, and readily available source, to create a wound-healing gel without the need for any chemical additives.
According to a publication in the scientific journal Matter, a research team from the Columbia University School of Engineering (USA) has utilized extracellular vesicles (EVs) extracted from yogurt to create a soft, biocompatible hydrogel that can promote the natural healing process of body tissues.
Microvesicles (EVs) are tiny particles secreted by cells that carry proteins, RNA, and biosignals, helping to maintain communication between cells. These EVs not only transport healing signals but also play a structural role in gels due to their ability to bind to biopolymers.
What's remarkable is that the research team found a way to use EVs from yogurt, an abundant, inexpensive, and readily available source, to create this gel without the need for any chemical additives.
"When we started the project, we just wanted to create a simple hydrogel model from EVs. We didn't expect that EVs from yogurt would be so bioactive. They not only performed well in the lab but also showed great potential in tissue regeneration," said Professor Santiago Correa, who led the research team.
In tests on mice, this gel promoted the formation of new blood vessels within just one week of injection. This is a crucial step in tissue regeneration, as new blood vessels help transport nutrients and cells to the damaged area.
In particular, the gel does not cause harmful inflammatory reactions; on the contrary, it stimulates the immune system to create an anti-inflammatory environment, contributing to healing.
The research is the result of a collaboration between Columbia University (USA) and the University of Padova (Italy). The Italian scientists have expertise in extracting EVs from agricultural products, while Professor Correa's team in the USA has strengths in biomaterials and nanotechnology.
In addition to EVs from yogurt, the research team also tested integrating EVs from mammalian cells and bacteria into the new hydrogel system, demonstrating that this design is highly versatile and applicable to a wide range of biomaterial sources. Because the gel can be injected directly into damaged tissue, it opens up possibilities for broad applications in wound treatment, degenerative diseases, reconstructive surgery, and even transplantation.
"The ability to design a material that both mimics natural biological structures and accelerates the body's recovery process is a remarkable milestone in the field of regenerative medicine," shared Artemis Margaronis, a research student involved in the project.
Currently, Columbia University has filed a patent application for this technology. In the future, the research team expects to further expand this EV-based biogel platform to mainstream medical applications, at a lower cost and with higher efficacy than traditional therapies.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gel-tri-thuong-lam-tu-sua-chua-20250807220552575.htm
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