Invention novelty: This invention is a method to increase skin regeneration and wound healing. It relies on activation of the innate immune response involving Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3).
Value Proposition: Current approaches to wound healing and skin regeneration are limited in that they do not lead to scar free wounds. This technology relies on activation of the innate immune response, via TLR3, and thus improves wound healing and skin regeneration.
Other advantages include:
- Topical use
- Easy to use
- Scar free wounds
- Cost effective
Technical Details: Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method to improve/enhance skin regeneration by the topical application of double-stranded RNA analogues (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid – Poly I:C) to wounds. Binding of Poly I:C, a ligand for TLR3, leads to the activation of the downstream response genes and leads to an increase in wound healing and skin regeneration resulting in scar-free skin. This has been demonstrated in mouse models.
Looking for Partners: To develop & commercialize the technology as products for wound healing and skin regeneration.
Stage of Development: Pre-Clinical
Data Availability: Animal data
Patent Status: Pending
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: Cell stem cell 17.2 (2015): 139-151; WO 2015127002
