Product 12 of 14
Exosome-based wound care for the slow wound healing seen in space.
Wounds heal slowly in microgravity, and a crew a long way from help needs reliable wound care that does not depend on fresh supplies.
Exosome Wound-Care for Microgravity extends our existing wound-care spray work. Exosomes are tiny cell-derived vesicles that carry signalling molecules between cells, and they are being studied for their role in tissue repair.
The programme asks whether an exosome-based product can be made stable enough for years of storage and whether it can support wound healing under the conditions seen in space. It is a research programme, with no claim that it works yet.
The problem
Most medicines flown to the ISS have a shelf life under 24 months, and biologics last about 6 months even when refrigerated.
Source: published spaceflight studies and NASA planning figures; refers to work by other groups.
Months of usable shelf life. Missions to Mars last years, with no resupply and no quick return home.
The science
Why this approach.
Wound healing involves coordinated signalling between many cell types, and in microgravity it appears to be slower. A small cut or burn that heals easily on Earth can become a real problem far from help.
Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles that cells release to carry proteins and nucleic acids to other cells, and they are being studied as signals in tissue repair. This programme extends our existing wound-care spray work. The central questions are whether an exosome-based product can be made consistent, sterile and stable for years, and whether it supports wound healing under microgravity-like conditions in controlled models.
In use
Across the length of a mission.
How this product is intended to fit into a crew's routine, from loading to return.
Spray stored sealed and sterile with the medical kit.
Used on minor wounds when they occur in the habitat or during activity.
Available on the surface, where injuries from dust and equipment are likely.
Used and stored samples tested for sterility and activity.
Design
Four decisions that shape it.
Exosome source and quality
Defined sources and characterisation of the vesicles.
Stable spray format
A formulation that holds activity without refrigeration.
Safety and sterility
Strict controls for use on open wounds.
Built on prior work
Starts from our existing wound-care spray platform.
Risks
What could go wrong, and what we do about it.
| Risk | How we address it |
|---|---|
| Consistency of vesicles | Defined sources and characterisation of every batch. |
| Stability without cold chain | Formulation work and accelerated storage. |
| Safety on open wounds | Sterility and toxicity testing before any use in people. |
Test plan
Ground, analog, orbit.
A staged programme: ground first, then analog crews, then flight.
Ground testing
Stability, sterility and wound-model studies including simulated microgravity.
Isolated-crew studies
Use assessments in analog settings for minor injuries.
Flight testing
Passive stability payload and later wound-model experiments.
Partnerships
Wound-healing and space-medicine groups.
Questions
FAQ.
What is an exosome?
A nanoscale vesicle released by cells that carries proteins and nucleic acids to other cells.
Is it available?
No. It is a research programme and not approved by any regulator.
Related
Works well with.
Rinse-Free Microbiome Skin Care
Wipes and creams that support skin microbes when showering is not possible.
ConceptRead more02On-Demand Peptide Library
Dried spores, each programmed to make one medicine on request within about 24 hours.
Research programmeRead more03Radiation Recovery Vesicles
Protective vesicles from radiation-tolerant microbes, to help tissues recover.
Research programmeRead moreAll products on this site are under research and development. They are not approved or cleared by any regulator and are not available for sale. Nothing here is medical advice, and no product is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Descriptions of research refer to published studies by other groups and do not claim that our products have been proven in space. Exosome Wound-Care for Microgravity is a product under research and development and is not available for sale.
Let's build the next shield together.
Space agencies, station builders, research institutes and sustainable-construction partners: we would like to hear from you.