Skiers, hikers, runners and others in extreme cold can cause frostbite – a painful effect that occurs when ice crystals enter. into pores and skin. Many areas of extreme cold are also very far away, and a delay in treating frostbite can lead to extremely serious injuries, scarring, and even amputation. Now, researchers reporting in the journal ACS Used Biomaterials have developed a cream that prevented accidental frostbite in mice when applied to the pores and skin a quarter earlier. hours compared to the time when it was extremely cold.
Frostbite not only kills pores and skin cells, but can even damage deeper tissues such as muscle and bone, often causing secondary infections and permanent nerve damage. Routine therapies, like rapid reheating of the affected limb, aim to reverse the freezing of tissue, however, therapeutically, many cells have died. Recently, scientists have developed methods to prevent frostbite, similar to electric heaters sewn into clothing or transgenic antifreeze proteins, however, such approaches are sometimes costly. , are impractical or have security considerations. Given this fact, Munia Ganguli and colleagues wanted to test the frostbite-preventing properties of a mixture of man-made molecules commonly used in the laboratory to preserve cryogenic cells. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) retains ice crystals from forming inside cells, while poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) prevents ice crystals in the intercellular area, which can damage membranes.
The researchers first tested the power of different amounts of DMSO and PVA, alone or together, to prevent loss of life in cells cultured in a sealed dish at freezing temperature. They found that 2% DMSO mixed with 1.6 mg/mL PVA provided the best cell survival (about 80%), while protecting cell membranes and cytoskeleton. This combination, which the researchers call SynAFP, also allows cells to divide and specific proteins that normally add after cold stress. The staff then mixed SynAFP with an enterprise-grade aloe vera cream and used it to get into the pores and skin of mice a quarter of an hour earlier than the cold problem. The cream reduces frostbite wound size, tissue damage and irritation, and speeds up treatment, as opposed to no treatment. The cream does not cause frostbite when used half an hour or so earlier than the cold problem; However, some functions do not harm the pores and skin. The consequences of anticoagulant cream for everyone and how it must constantly be reapplied, the researchers say.
Reference: “Mixed of man-made molecules that act as antifreeze for pore and skin safety against cold-induced accidents” by Aanchal Gupta, Betsy Reshma G, Praveen Singh, Ekta Kohli, Shantanu Sengupta and Munia Ganguli, December 25, 2021, Biological Supplies Using ACS.
DOI: 10.1021 / acsabm.1c01058
The authors acknowledge funding from the Defense and Growth Analysts Foundation, the Biotechnology Facility Analysis Fellowship, and the Council for Scientific & Industrial Analysis (CSIR).
