720059SertaSil - novel medical device for advanced wound careClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKThe NHS spends each year over £3bn on wound care and at any one time in the UK there are over 600,000 wounds that cannot heal. In the EU there are over 12 mil wounds and burns annually requiring extended treatment or hospitalisation. However, current treatments have limited effects and there is an urgent need for improved wound care products. SertaSil is a novel medical device for wound healing in late stage development. It is a white powder that is applied on top of the wound, where it accelerates wound cleansing and healing. SertaSil has in a clinical study with 266 patients been shown to accelerate wound healing by almost 50% compared to antibiotics and antiseptics, to remove dead necrotic tissue and wound infections, including infections by antibiotic resistant strains, to reduce wound pain, oedema and inflammation and to improve the closure of non-healing wounds such as diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers. SertaSil is being developed by Willingsford Ltd., a Southampton-based medical device company focusing on advanced wound care. The aim of the project is to develop SertaSil for clinical and veterinary use and the award of a TSB Development-of-Prototype grant will enable Willingsford to accelerate this process considerably. For people with chronic wounds, e.g. diabetic foot, venous leg or pressure ulcers, the wound may need several months to heal and this can have substantial influence on their lives. This is not only due to the pain usually associated with the wound, but many have a negative perception of wounds and this can lead to social isolation. Wounds can also affect a person’s ability to be physically active and this can, particularly for the elderly, reduce their chances of maintaining independent living. SertaSil represents a completely novel approach to wound care and it has the potential to improve quality-of-life for people with complicated or chronic wounds and to reduce healthcare costs substantially due to a faster healing process.