A Breakthrough in Biomaterial Technology

Current Problem

Chronic wounds suffer from high levels of inflammation which impairs the natural healing process. Wound dressings currently available do not address the inflammation problem nor do they have the capability to deliver drugs over a sustained period to accelerate healing of hard-to-heal wounds.

Diabetic ulcers are an example of costly, chronic wounds that often result in limb amputations. Diabetic ulcers are estimated to cost $78 billion per year in the United States alone, they lead to 80% of non-traumatic amputations, and every 20 seconds a limb is lost to a diabetic ulcer that would not heal. Better treatment options are desperately needed.

Our Technology: Revolutionizing Wound Care

GelSana’s novel polymer technology helps reduce inflammation at the wound site, providing decreased healing time in diabetic animal trials. Improved healing reduces the risk of infection and amputation. Our polymers can be applied to wounds more readily then current dressings: they are extrudable yet highly elastic and stretchable. They gently adhere to the surrounding healthy tissue while not adhering to a moist wound bed. As a partially hydrated material, they donate moisture to wounds and they are also able to accept moisture from wounds with high exudate production. GelSana's polymers are also capable of providing controlled release of therapeutics to the wound bed over time, promoting accelerated healing.

CleragelTM, GelSana's First Product

Discover the handling of GelSana's first product, Cleragel Hydrogel Wound Dressing, in this video, highlighting Cleragel's unique mechanical properties. Our hydrogels stand out with exceptional properties—extrudable, elastic, and precise. The gel adheres gently to healthy tissue without sticking to moist wounds, making dressing changes easy and painless. This hydrogel provides moisture to wounds and can absorb excess fluids, all while maintaining structural integrity for easy application and reducing the number of dressing changes. GelSana's polymers redefine wound care by combining superior handling with accelerated healing.

Recent Publications

  1. Stager MA, Adhikari B, Raichart A, Krebs MD. Self-Initiated Photopolymerization of Anti-Inflammatory Hydrogels with Sustained Release. ACS Macro Letters, 12(1), 65-70, Jan. 2023.
  2. Stager M, Bardill J, Raichart A, Osmond M, Niemiec S, Zgheib C, Seal S, Liechty K, Krebs MD. Photopolymerized Zwitterionic Hydrogels with Sustained Delivery of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle-miR146a Conjugate Accelerates Diabetic Wound Healing. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 5(3), 1092-1103, March 21, 2022.
  3. Bardill JR, Laughter MR, Stager M, Liechty KW, Krebs MD, Zgheib C. Topical Gel-Based Biomaterials for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Acta Biomaterialia, 138, 73-91, Jan 2022.
  4. Sener G*, Hilton SA*, Osmond MJ, Zgheib C, Newsom JP, Dewberry L, Singh S, Sakthivel TS, Seal S, Liechty KW*, Krebs MD*. Injectable, Self-Healable Zwitterionic Cryogels with Sustained MicroRNA-Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle Release Promote Accelerated Wound Healing. Acta Biomaterialia, 101, 262-72, January 1, 2020.
  5. Sener G, Krebs MD. Zwitterionic cryogels for sustained release of proteins. RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 29608-11.
Syringe hydrogel application

Cleragel is GelSana's first wound healing product. This product is made with novel chemistry that allows it to gently adhere to surrounding healthy tissues while protecting the wound, and it reduces inflammation in chronic wounds to lead to improved healing. GelSana is developing a pipeline of wound dressing products that provide controlled drug delivery over time to the wound bed for tissue regeneration and antimicrobial applications.