New “NanoFlare” technique to predict formation of scar tissue

A joint research team from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and Northwestern University (USA) has developed a new technique for predicting the formation of scar tissue using nanoparticles coated with strands of DNA which quickly and accurately identify whether a wound is likely to lead to excessive scarring.
Thousands of nanoparticles called NanoFlares, which have DNA strands attached to their surfaces like a ball of spikes, are applied to closed wounds using a cream, then left to penetrate the skin cells for 24 hours. After 24 hours, a fluorescence microscope is used to detect signals which would indicate abnormal scarring and require intervention to avoid heavier scarring. The signals are given out by the nanoparticles’ interaction with target biomarkers inside the skin cells.

Assistant Professor Xu Chenjie said: “When our bioengineered nanoparticles are applied on the skin, they will penetrate up to 2mm below the skin surface and enter scar cells. Upon binding with a specific tell-tale gene released by the scar cells, smaller DNA spikes are knocked loose and light up under the microscope like little light flares. The more flares we see, the more scarring activity there is.”
Dr Amy S Paller, Director of Northwestern University Skin Disease Research Centre, said: “Beyond clinical observation, the gold standard for both clinical diagnosis and translational research of skin disorders is a biopsy. This technology is an exciting first step towards having a non-invasive way to detect increases or decreases in gene expression.”