Protein found in milk speeds up wound healing

(Image: Pixabay CC0) Bandages infused with casein, a protein that occurs naturally in cow's milk, significantly improved wound healing in rats compared to those in control groups, according to a new study by UCL researchers. The study, published today in Interface , is the first to test casein's reputed healing benefits on an animal model. The promising results suggest that casein, which is cheap, abundant and has antimicrobial properties, has potential to replace expensive materials such as silver in wound dressings. Casein is a protein found in the milk of mammals and is most abundant in cow's milk, where it makes up to 80% of the substance. In the last decade, interest has grown in casein's antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its utility as a high-protein dietary supplement. In this study, researchers at UCL mixed pure casein with polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polyester commonly used as a bandage material. They used a technique called pressurised gyration, which was developed at UCL in 2013, to spin this mixture into bandage-like fibres from which they created casein-infused bandages.