The monitoring and treatment of diabetic wounds is currently in high demand with a strong growth in the number of cases every year. This chronic disease facilitates the installation of infected lesions and leads to the development of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), the most common, debilitating and costly complications of diabetes (4 million deaths per year worldwide).
The problem is particularly acute in the Hauts-de-France region, Wallonia and Flanders, where the prevalence of this disease is higher. A proposal for a research project under Interreg VI France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen will be submitted to the Government.
The aim of the DIAMOND project, with a budget of about 3,200,000 euros, is to develop a smart wound dressing consisting of (1) sensors for real-time monitoring of biological parameters indicating infection or poor wound healing, and (2) a stimulus-responsive hydrogel loaded with drugs that can be released on demand.
At the end of the project, demonstrators will be produced with methods easily transferable to industry (dressings or medical devices).
partners
The project is multidisciplinary in nature and several universities and research centres are involved:
France : Université de Lille, Eurasanté
Wallonia : Université de MONS, Materia Nova, Multitel
Flanders : Centexbel, University of Ghent
The Diabetes League and Jolimont Hospital are associated partners.
Acknowledgements
