Effect of PICO dressing therapy on acute and chronic wounds
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysing the effects of a single use negative pressure wound therapy device (PICO) on acute and chronic wounds
IRAS ID
351687
Contact name
Jason Wong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Wounds are significant issues for patients and healthcare systems worldwide, due to complexity of care and financial implications. Latest annual analysis showed 3.8 million patients treated for skin wounds in NHS (7% of UK adult population) with cost implications of £8.3 billion.
Negative pressure dressing therapy (NPWT) is commonly used to improve wound healing across various wounds, from surgical incisions to complex non-healing wounds. PICO 7™ is a single-use NPWT preferred over others in its class as it provides ease of care, promoting patients’ independence due to lightweight, portable and discreet design. It delivers treatment for 7 days, its AIRLOCK technology delivering constant NPWT. Although its effects on wound healing have been extensively observed, its precise mechanism of action is unknown.
This study aims to investigate biological effects of PICO 7™ on incisional and non-healing wounds using new genetic tools that analyse messages from cells to better understand changes PICO 7™ promotes at tissue level. Thus, we can target PICO 7™’s use better for patients and recognise areas for further development to ultimately improve patient care.
We will analyse wounds before and after application of PICO 7™ dressings. Two small skin samples will be obtained from wound margins before PICO 7™ is applied and 7 days after, during inpatient or outpatient appointments at Wythenshawe or MRI Hospitals. Participants must be over 18 y.o with new or long-standing wounds below 4.5cm in depth that meet a number of criteria. Tissue’s spatial biology will be analysed to monitor changes NPWT brings about; this way we can illustrate the wound healing biological mechanisms influenced by PICO 7™. Based on spatial biology data obtained, a laboratory tuneable model of the PICO 7™ will be developed on artificial human skin wounds, allowing for biological targets testing and advancing the next generation of NPWT dressings.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0303
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion