New generation of skin substitutes give hope to severe burn patients | Health

By Stephen Beech

Severe burn patients have a brighter future thanks to a “new generation” of skin substitutes, suggests a new study.

Horrific burn injuries remain one of the most challenging injuries to treat, causing high disease and death rates worldwide, say scientists.

But Australian researchers have flagged some “promising” new approaches that could save lives and dramatically improve patient recovery.

The team analysed the latest advancements in dermal substitutes – biochemicals used to replace damaged skin – with a particular focus on combating infection and enhancing tissue regeneration following catastrophic burns.

The researchers say that despite decades of progress, traditional treatments, such as skin grafting, often fail to provide adequate healing and infection control, leading to prolonged hospital stays and soaring healthcare costs.

But they warned that the urgency to develop safer, more effective solutions has never been greater.

Co-lead author Dr. Zlatko Kopecki, a Research Fellow at the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, said: “Infections are a major cause of complications and mortality in burn patients.

“We must innovate beyond conventional methods and develop therapies that regenerate tissue while actively preventing infections.”

He said that more than 2,000 Australians are admitted to hospital every year with burn-related injuries, 74% of whom require surgery, including a skin graft.

Globally, 180,000 people die from burns each year, and around 10 million are hospitalised, costing healthcare systems billions worldwide.

The review, published in the journal Advanced Therapeutics, highlights that while many commercial skin substitutes exist, very few offer integrated antimicrobial protection – a “critical” factor given the vulnerability of burn wounds to bacterial invasion and sepsis.

The researchers say emerging technologies such as Kerecis, a fish skin graft with inherent antimicrobial properties, and NovoSorb BTM, a synthetic biodegradable matrix that resists bacterial colonisation without relying on antibiotics, represent a “new generation” of dermal substitutes with enhanced potential to protect and heal complex burns.

Kerecis comes from wild Atlantic cod, caught from a sustainable fish stock in pristine Icelandic waters and processed using renewable energy.

The researchers say it stands out for retaining natural omega-3 fatty acids, which have strong antimicrobial effects and promote wound healing, while NovoSorb BTM’s unique polyurethane matrix offers “structural resilience” even in infected wounds, providing a vital scaffold for tissue regeneration.

Study co-lead author Dr. Bronwyn Dearman said: “These materials demonstrate a shift towards multifunctional therapies that combine structural support with infection resistance.”

Dr. Dearman, Principal Medical Scientist for the Skin Engineering Laboratory at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, added: “Such innovations are crucial, particularly as antibiotic-resistant infections continue to rise globally.”

The review calls for the next wave of research to integrate active antimicrobial agents directly into 3D dermal scaffolds that support cell growth, reducing the reliance on antibiotics and temporary dressings.

Beyond infection control, the research points to scarless healing as the “future frontier” of burn care.

Dr. Kopecki added, “By combining smart biomaterials with cell-based therapies, scientists aim to regenerate skin that restores its full function – an outcome that could revolutionise the recovery for millions of burn survivors worldwide.”