Scientists in the US have revealed that a borate glass nanofibre material that can help to heal wounds has been developed.
Announced by the American Ceramic Society, the study began in 2010 and was overseen by the Phelps County Regional Medical Center.
Clinical laboratory testing took place at a facility in Rolla and saw 12 volunteers with venous stasis wounds be treated with the nanofibre material.
After a few months, eight individuals found their injuries healed, while the remaining four saw improvement and are expected to shortly complete their recovery.
The glass fibres have been found to stem bleeding, fight infection and help to heal wounds - as well as not needing to be removed once applied and appearing to disappear.
"Does it dissolve? Does it become part of the tissue? We don't quite know, but it is just such a neat thing to watch that process," commented Peggy Taylor, a nurse who administered the treatment during testing.
Last month, a team of Spanish scientists from the University of Grenada created the first bioartifical organ to be seen in the country.