Posted on 08/01/2023 9:02:43 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Bandages infused with casein, a protein that occurs naturally in cow's milk, significantly improved wound healing in rats compared to those in control groups, according to a study.
The study is the first to test casein's reputed healing benefits on an animal model. The promising results suggest that casein, which is cheap, abundant and has antimicrobial properties, has potential to replace expensive materials such as silver in wound dressings.
Casein is a protein found in the milk of mammals and is most abundant in cow's milk, where it makes up to 80% of the substance. In the last decade, interest has grown in casein's antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its utility as a high-protein dietary supplement.
In this study, researchers at UCL mixed pure casein with polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polyester commonly used as a bandage material. They used a technique called pressurized gyration, which was developed at UCL in 2013, to spin this mixture into bandage-like fibers from which they created casein-infused bandages. This would not have been possible with other, more expensive manufacturing methods such as electrospinning.
Rats with identical small skin perforations were split into three groups. The wounds of those in the first group were treated with casein-infused bandages, the second with normal PCL bandages, and the third with no bandages.
Healing progress was checked after three, seven, 10 and 14 days by photographing and measuring the wounds, as well as examining them under a microscope.
The team found that at 14 days the wounds treated with casein-infused bandages healed to 5.2% of their original size, compared to 31.1% in the normal bandage group and 45.6% in the untreated group.
Analysis also confirmed that the casein bandages were non-toxic and that levels of immune-related molecules were much lower around wounds treated with them.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Do you spray oven cleaner in the face of rabbits to ascertain it’s effects? Well someone did.
Do you believe in God?
God gave mankind dominion over animals. We can eat them, pet them, harm them, and kill them. The use of a rabbit for oven cleaner testing is part of what God allows.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.