Experiments

Photosynthetic keratinocytes: light-powered oxygen for non-healing skin wounds

Approximately 1.5 million people suffer from non-healing wounds in Germany, often leading to limb amputations and immense health care costs. Keratinocytes constitute the most superficial skin compartment. Due to their large distance to blood vessels, keratinocytes depend on oxygen diffusion through the tissue. In non-healing wounds with poor oxygenation, keratinocyte migration is abolished. Constant and controlled oxygen supply to skin cells by incorporation of a neo-endosymbiont is a novel concept to circumvent local tissue hypoxia. Upon light exposure, autonomous and timely controlled oxygen production within these neo-endosymbiontic skin cells would enable wound closure, kick-starting an entirely new line of wound therapy, e.g. for diabetics or for arteriosclerotic non-healing wounds.

This new project is funded by VolkswagenStiftung