More information
Description
Having worked in the medical-pharmaceutical industry for 13 years, I have listened to doctors who noticed that skin chafing and abrasions in obese people are a serious problem. Unfortunately, Poland ranks fifth in the world in the prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, while children in our country are among the fastest growing overweight and obese populations in Europe (22% of children currently). Overweight children do not take up physical activity and avoid it because, among other reasons, the places where skin abrasions appear cause them pain and discomfort during movement. My project objective is to develop an innovative product dedicated in particular to obese children with mobility constraints due to skin chafing and abrasions, mainly in the thigh area. The product is a thin and adherent regenerative material that moisturises the skin, draws away excess water and heat and at the same time is flexible, durable and perfectly concealing.
I intend to use hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers and an original combination of bioactive substances to create this material. In the course of the project implementation, I will purchase consulting services of scientific units that will develop the product concept, material and bioactive layer tests, as well as prepare certification and patent documents.
I have also established cooperation with a Norwegian partner - Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway which deals with bionanotechnological research using nano/microprocessing tools and processes in biological systems. I will benefit from the scientific mentoring of this unit in the area of application of bioactive substances to materials and controlled release of these substances over time.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to develop an innovative protective material for skin abrasion protection of obese children
In the course of the project, a series of works were undertaken to develop an abrasion protection material that meets the most stringent criteria for use by children. The result is a material that is an all-natural (biodegradable), flexible, skin-compatible, non-allergenic product that performs all the functions of a material that protects against skin abrasions, especially in busy, young people with excessive body weight.
Thanks to such precise research and measures taken, a product was obtained that is dedicated to children with abrasions of various parts of the body. These abrasions can be caused by their anatomical structure (for example, where the thighs meet, or under the breasts) or by external factors, examples of which are abrasions from clothing. The material can be a great help in returning these children to normal activity, which is an undeniable social aspect of the developed solution
Summary of bilateral results
In order to best develop an abrasion protection material, which is the subject of project NORW.19.01.04-24-0003/20, AXYZ Urszula Markowicz - Jureczko established cooperation with a Norwegian partner - the University of Norway, whose representative was Artur Cieślar - Podbuda, PhD. Advice from the partner and the possibility of confronting the research and implementation work undertaken brought a lot of benefits, which contributed to targeted activities, resulting in the possibility of developing material in accordance with expectations. All thanks to the long-standing experience of the aforementioned medical university and the permanent exchange of knowledge and the possibility of confrontation in the scope of work throughout the project. AXYZ plans to expand its product range based on the prototype materials it has developed. Therefore, in the future, talks will certainly be held with the University of Oslo on the possibility of continuing cooperation in the field of further research work.