Activated mesenchymal stem cell therapy for chronic wound treatment

Overview

This solution offers a novel cell therapy for chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores, which remain open due to inactive local cells and disordered inflammatory conditions. The approach uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human umbilical cord that have been pre-activated with inflammatory cytokines. When applied topically, these activated MSCs release growth factors and cytokines that "wake up" surrounding dormant cells and restore a healthy inflammatory environment, enabling wound closure. The therapy has received clinical trial approval from the Chinese regulatory authority and has shown promising results in early patient studies for diabetic foot wounds.

Technical specifications

Key features:

• MSCs sourced from human umbilical cord, with each cord capable of producing up to one trillion cells
• Cells are activated using inflammatory cytokines, a process backed by 15 years of laboratory research and over 200 peer-reviewed publications
• Activated cells are cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and retain full therapeutic activity after thawing
• Topical application enables straightforward clinical use without invasive delivery
• Future development includes systematic cytokine profiling using Bioplex technology to identify the most effective individual cytokines or combinations for wound healing
• Investigation of VEGFc as a key mediator produced by activated MSCs that promotes wound repair

Technology readiness level

The technology has progressed through animal studies and entered human clinical trials under regulatory approval. Preliminary clinical data in diabetic foot wound patients has demonstrated high effectiveness. Ongoing validation includes expanded clinical trials with longitudinal cytokine profiling, deeper investigation of VEGFc's role in chronic wound healing, and systematic screening of cytokine combinations to support the development of next-generation cytokine-based wound healing medications. Collaboration with Wuxi Sinotide New Drug Technology Development Institutes Inc. supports continued advancement toward broader clinical availability.