For most people, a blister or small cut heals with little attention. But for millions of people living with diabetes or other conditions that restrict blood flow, even minor wounds can become chronic, leading to infection, tissue damage, amputation and other serious complications. Researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) are developing a promising new treatment designed to improve healing by increasing blood flow directly at the wound site. Working with Exhalix, a company specializing in technologies for vascular health and wound care, the team has created a bandage-like device that delivers hydrogen sulfide gas directly to injured tissue. Rather than treating the entire body, the approach focuses on improving circulation where it is needed most, potentially helping wounds that are otherwise difficult to heal.
The body naturally produces hydrogen sulfide and plays an important role in tissue repair. It promotes healing by relaxing and widening blood vessels, a process known as vasodilation, while also stimulating angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. Together, these effects improve blood flow, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach damaged tissue more effectively. This is particularly important for patients with diabetes or ischemia, whose reduced circulation often prevents wounds from healing properly. According to Dr. Cristine Heaps, interim head of the VMBS Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, insufficient blood flow is one of the biggest barriers to recovery. “If we can improve healing in these hard-to-treat wounds, it could make a real difference,” she said. “People are losing limbs to wounds most of us would never think twice about.”
Unlike existing wound treatments, which typically focus on cleaning wounds, controlling infection and using specialized dressings, the new device targets the underlying problem of poor circulation. The bandage is coated with a material that releases carefully controlled amounts of hydrogen sulfide directly onto the wound. Delivering the gas locally is essential because exposing the entire body to hydrogen sulfide could cause blood vessels throughout the body to widen excessively, resulting in dangerously low blood pressure and reduced blood flow to vital organs such as the brain. By confining the treatment to the wound itself, researchers aim to maximize healing while minimizing potential side effects.
Early preclinical findings indicate that the device successfully keeps hydrogen sulfide concentrated at the wound site rather than allowing it to circulate throughout the body. This targeted delivery enables the gas to act directly on damaged tissue, where improved circulation is most needed. The researchers believe this localized strategy could provide a safer and more effective way to harness the healing properties of hydrogen sulfide than systemic treatments, offering a potential breakthrough for patients whose wounds have failed to respond to conventional therapies.
The research team is also investigating whether the new device can complement existing treatments rather than replace them. One widely used therapy for chronic wounds is negative pressure wound therapy, which applies controlled suction to remove excess fluid and encourage tissue repair. Researchers are testing a combined approach in which hydrogen sulfide is first delivered to the wound before suction is resumed, giving the gas time to improve circulation without being immediately removed. The team hopes this combination will produce better healing outcomes than either treatment alone and could benefit not only people with diabetes but also surgical patients and individuals recovering from injuries that impair blood flow.
Although the research remains in the early preclinical stage and has not yet been tested in human patients, the initial results are encouraging. Scientists are continuing to determine the optimal dose of hydrogen sulfide and the most effective treatment schedule before moving to clinical studies. If future research confirms its safety and effectiveness, the innovative bandage could provide a valuable new treatment for chronic wounds, helping patients recover more quickly while reducing the risk of infection, tissue loss and amputation.
More information: Matthew Justus et al, A novel device for in-situ on-demand hydrogen sulfide generation and delivery to increase tissue perfusion to chronic wounds, Journal of Biological Engineering. DOI: 10.1186/s13036-026-00654-9
Journal information: Journal of Biological Engineering Provided by Texas A&M University
