Chronic wounds are a constant source of frustration for individuals and health care providers all around the world. Lower extremity wound chronicity affects an amazing 4.5 million persons in the United States, whereas all sorts of chronic wounds afflict an estimated 1% of the Western population. The wound healing cascade does not always follow an ordered pattern of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
Healing phases occur in an ordered and timely manner in an ideal wound environment (hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative, remodeling). Chronic or difficult-to-heal wounds, on the other hand, do not heal, and the wound healing comes to a stop. Collagen is a unique triple helix protein molecule that forms a key segment inside the extracellular matrix and plays a critical function in every wound healing phase (ECM). Chronic wounds become “stalled” in the inflammatory phase, with an increase in proteolytic enzymes and extracellular matrix destruction (ECM). This wound environment becomes hyperinflammatory and proteolytic, preventing the wound from advancing farther along the wound healing timeline.
Clinical evidence suggests that collagen-based dressings may be capable of influencing wound biochemistry and addressing chronic wound imbalances. Consider the type and source of collagen, as well as the dressing’s characteristics, format, and bioactive technology, when choosing an advanced wound care collagen dressing.
Wound Care Products with Collagen
Collagen is the most prevalent protein in the body. Collagen helps wounds heal by attracting fibroblasts and encouraging the formation of new collagen in the wound bed. By accelerating the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of keratinocytes and restoring the protection of the underlying dermal structures, the reepithelialization process results in the development of new epithelium and skin appendages.
Collagen dressing technology encourages autolytic debridement, angiogenesis, and reepithelialization while stimulating new tissue growth. Excessive matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) form in chronic wounds, interfering with the normal wound healing process. Excessive MMPs detected in the extracellular matrix are bound and inactivated by collagen dressings (ECM). Keratinocytes continue to proliferate around the margins of the wound and migrate to cover it until they meet in the middle. Some sources claim that well-approximated wounds can re-epithelialize in as little as 48 hours, while others claim that the process takes 2 to 3 weeks.
When the reepithelialization process fails, the wound and the patient may suffer undesirable consequences, such as the formation of a hypertrophic scar. It’s critical to reduce irregularities in the healing process in order to facilitate reepithelialization and wound closure. Many conditions, including those stated above, can produce wounds with poor reepithelialization, as well as diabetes, trauma, burns, bacterial infections, tissue hypoxia, local ischemia, exudates, and high amounts of inflammatory cytokines generating a continuous state of inflammation. A persistent state of inflammation may lead to an increase in cellular senescence and decrescence in the cell pool. What we do know is that MMPs must be present in the appropriate amount, at the right time, and in the right place for a wound to heal properly.
Collagen, especially types I and II, makes up around 70-80 percent of the ECM of skin. Collagen can come from any species, but it’s most commonly found in bovine, porcine, equine, Piscean, and avian tissues. Type I collagen is the most common of the three collagen types. It is the most often employed collagen in the wound healing process, accounting for more than 90% of the tissue. It can also be found in tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, and scar tissue, in addition to the skin. At all anatomic sites studied, the application of bovine collagen matrix resulted in faster wound healing than typical second intention healing. The average time to complete healing using bovine collagen matrix was 6.1 weeks, compared to 9.4 weeks in the control group. The core collagen-based products of Human BioSciences, Inc. USA using a gentle manufacturing technique referred to as Kollagen Technology are made entirely of Type I bovine collagen in its purest form.
These dressings are suitable for granulating wounds with light to moderate exudate. Collagen dressings absorb excess fluid while maintaining a moist environment that promotes healing. Sheets, particles, amorphous gels, and pads are all options for collagen dressings.
Collagen acts as a template for future tissue formation in its matrix structure, and the primary structure continues to attract fibroblasts to the region. When the healing process reaches the maturation stage, it is thought to boost the deposition of orientated collagen fibers, which increases the new tissue’s tensile strength.
The goal of wound closure requires wound reepithelialization. The development of new epithelium and skin appendages is part of the reepithelialization process, which is a multifactorial systemic process. A number of variables might stymie the epithelialization process, all of which must be addressed before wound healing progresses. Excess matrix metalloproteases, impaired fibroblast signaling, ECM instability, and halted keratinocyte migration are all common stalling reasons.
When used in conjunction with wound bed preparation, moist-wound healing, offloading/redistribution, and education, different Collagen technology dressings have been found to advance chronic complex wounds towards the wound healing trajectory. When choosing advanced wound care products, healthcare providers should evaluate quality, product features, pricing, and availability.
References
Human BioSciences, Inc. blog offers education and tips; however,the information provided by this website or company is not a substitute for medical treatment or advice.
Mrs. Vann is responsible for branding, design, and public outreach efforts for the company. Mrs. Vann has over five years of experience in the creative design arena. She has spearheaded multiple marketing campaigns, both domestic and international. She also has experience producing several television and live-stage programs. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University.
Mr. Patel is the Vice President of Operations for Human BioSciences. As such, he is responsible for strategy development for optimal growth, organizing multiple teams and implementing optimal product delivery for the growth of HBS. He has served multiple positions within HBS since 2001, including Operations Manager. With an MBA in Pharmaceutical Healthcare and a Bachelor’s in Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Patel brings deep technical knowledge in collagen product production with a rich history in managing teams.
As the President of Human BioSciences, Dr. Rohan K Jain is responsible for the company’s overall operations, with a focus on research and development. Dr. Jain has supervised and conducted extensive research in the collagen, biomaterials, and protein space, resulting in the release of numerous new products to the market. Prior to his role at HBS, Dr. Jain was a capital markets attorney at Shearman & Sterling LLP. He received his Doctorate in Law and his MBA from New York University; his Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and his Master’s in Engineering Management from Johns Hopkins University. He is a member of the New York and Maryland bars.
Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, CWCP, DAPWCA, FACCWS is responsible for clinical education and training initiatives for customer accounts. Ms. Carver has amassed a wealth of clinical knowledge and industry experience in her more than 20 years as a board-certified wound care nurse. She has authored over 200 published white papers, ebooks, blogs, and articles for WoundSource and freelance.
Dr. Goebel is responsible for the company’s physical infrastructure and global expansion efforts through partnerships. Prior to joining HBS, Dr. Goebel was Managing Director at the Graf Matuschka Group in Munich, Germany, where he was actively involved in restructuring and privatization in East Germany and Eastern Europe. He was also a member of the American group of the EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the privatization of the Russian economy and military complex. He has over forty years’ experience in many different industries including medical devices, pharmacy, and others. Dr. Goebel earned his Doctorate and Postdoctoral degrees in Economics in East Berlin.
Mr. Kumar is responsible for the company’s overall accounting and finance activities with a focus on internal control and taxation.
Mr. Kumar has over 25 years of public and corporate accounting experience. He is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., and an Enrolled Agent authorized to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Kumar is also a Chartered Accountant and fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Mr. Kumar received his Master’s degree in Commerce from Himalayan University in India.
Mr. Slovick is responsible for all regulatory and quality affairs in the company. Mr. Slovick has worked in regulatory, quality, and clinical services within the medical device and diagnostics industry for nearly 40 years. He founded Methodize Inc., to offer strategic support for approval of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics products. Mr. Slovick has a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems.
Mr. Agarwal is responsible for Corporate Business Development, Sales, and Product Development, both locally and internationally for the company. Mr. Agarwal has over six years of corporate sales and business development experience. He completed his Master of Science in Engineering Management degree from Johns Hopkins University with a technical concentration in Mechanical Engineering. In the past, he has also worked as a fundraising volunteer for three years and thus gained insights in community fundraising and business development. Additionally, he has interned at a manufacturing firm and understood various intricacies involved in manufacturing ranging from the floor level to the supply chain. He has published a paper on Omni Channel Supply Chain and is a certified Lean Six Sigma associate. He has also interned as a business development consultant to a startup for market research and pricing strategies in Israel. Equipped with a combination of management and technical background acquired from his diverse experiences and education, he is perfectly suited to lead the business development efforts for Human BioSciences.
