Indian researchers have developed a wound-healing nanofibrous mat that interacts with the body to help it heal faster and without scarring.The mat is made of a non-protein polymer (PVA) mixed with silk protein and coated with an antibiotic and epidermal growth factor. It heals wounds that have all the layers of the skin removed and are as big as 6 mm in diameter.

While conventional dressing materials only absorb fluids and blood, the smart material expedites the healing process. It will be a big boon for diabetics, for whom wound-healing is very slow. The results were published recently in the journal Acta Biomaterialia.