South Africa researchers mix gold and red wine to heal wounds

Researchers at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa have developed a groundbreaking method to accelerate wound healing by combining gold and red wine. This innovative mixture leverages the anti-inflammatory properties of gold, which does not react with body tissues, alongside the high antioxidant content found in red wine, particularly from grape varieties like pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon. The study highlights the potential of this combination to address chronic wounds, which affect millions of patients annually, particularly those with conditions like diabetes that impair blood circulation. In laboratory tests, the researchers created a simulated wound on human skin cells and treated it with a mixture of dried red wine extracts and chloroauric acid, a gold-containing chemical. The results were promising; after 72 hours, the wounds treated with the gold and wine mixture showed over 80% closure, significantly outperforming the 50% closure observed in samples treated with red wine alone. This suggests that the addition of gold nanoparticles enhances the healing process. The findings were published in the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, indicating a significant advancement in wound care technology. Experts in the field, such as consultant vascular surgeon Stella Vig, noted the novelty of using red wine in this context and the potential role of both silver and gold nanoparticles in reducing wound infections. Dr. Ahmed Osman from Queen's University emphasized that gold particles not only promote cell growth but also enhance the skin's natural healing processes. This research opens new avenues for treating chronic wounds, potentially reducing the risk of infections and complications like limb amputation for patients suffering from non-healing wounds.