WORLD
US scientists have developed chemically modified water which they say speeds up wound healing
Baku, April 11 (AZERTAC). Oculus, the Californian firm which developed the water - made by filtering it through a salt membrane - says it kills viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is also effective against MRSA and UK trials are being carried out on patients with diabetic foot ulcers, New Scientist magazine reported.
Experts said wound healing was a major problem for people with diabetes.
The key ingredients of the water, called Microcyn, are oxychlorine ions - electrically charged molecules.
The water can only kill cells it can completely surround, such as free-living microbes, so human cells are spared because they are tightly bound together in a matrix.
It is made by taking purified water and using an electric current and a semi-permeable sodium chloride membrane to separate out the oxychlorine ions.
One study showed that patients with advanced foot ulcers who were treated with the water, alongside an antibiotic, had an average healing time of 43 days compared with 55 days in those who received standard treatment.
The results were presented at a Global Healthcare biomedical conference in Monte Carlo.
Bleach also contains a number of electrically charged molecules such as hypochlorite but in much higher concentrations than in the water.
About 15% of diabetic foot ulcers result in amputation. Diabetes UK care adviser Tracey Kelly said: "The healing of wounds is a major problem for people with diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control or have circulatory problems. We would welcome any safe effective treatment which could help people with diabetes make a swift recovery.