Ottawa – Researchers at the University of Waterloo, Canada, have developed a new wound dressing material using cutting-edge polymers to help heal wounds quicker. The novel bandage may speed up the recovery of burn victims and may also be used for the treatment of cancer and for cosmetic purposes. Dr Boxin Zhao, a professor at the university’s Department of Chemical Engineering and the leader of the research team: “To treat burn victims, we can customise the shape using a 3D printer; secondly, the material has fine-tuned surface adhesion, which is a key feature. The material can easily adhere to the skin and be taken off. It’s a very delicate balance within the material to make the adhesion work.”