Although modern medicine has learned to successfully combat burns, the scars remaining after them are difficult to prevent, and even more difficult to cure.

Israeli scientists still found a way.

Pulsating electric fields do not allow the proliferation of collagen cells responsible for scarring in place of damaged tissues.

A successful test of a unique technology in rats is reported in the scientific journal Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

The authors of the development note that most of the burns end in scarring soon after recovery, and cosmetic defects can occur with burns of different severity. The long-term psychological, physical and social consequences of scars can easily destroy the normal life of patients.

Partially irreversible electroporation (pIRE) is an innovative method that uses microsecond electric fields of high tension.

According to researchers, these fields stop the hyperproduction of collagen cells, significantly inhibiting the growth of scar tissue. At least in rodents.

"Surgical interventions, laser therapy, electron irradiation, mechanical compression, silicone plates and other techniques have been tested for years, yielding modest results. Scarring is a very complex process involving inflammatory and metabolic components. With the help of an electric field, you can more effectively impact on them, "explains one of the inventors of the new method, Professor Alexander Goldberg (Alexander Goldberg).

During preclinical tests in laboratory animals, scientists were conducted with burned rats for 5 pIRE courses for half a year after the burn injury.

The electric field did interfere with the natural scarring processes, so that the treated animals had an average of 57.9% less surface area of ??the scars than the control group.

The only restriction of his research, Dr. Goldberg, refers to the fact that in rats scarring occurs somewhat differently than in humans. Therefore celebrating success is too early - only the clinical trial with the participation of burned volunteers will put an end to this issue.

Details can be found in the press release on the website of Tel Aviv University.

medbe. en.