Revolutionary Gel

University of Otago scientists have developed a ground-breaking gel for healing wounds after sinus injury derived from a polymer named chitosan extracted from crab-shell and squid. According to researchers, the new gel has the potential to assist in some half a million endoscopic sinus operations to relieve sinusitis performed each year in the US alone. Work began on the project five years ago after ENT surgeon Simon Robinson challenged his father Brian Robinson, professor in chemistry at Otago, to come up with a compound to help counter post-operative complications. “From a physician’s point of view, the big thing is that it reduces the amount of bleeding the patient will experience without negative side effects — it ticks all the boxes,” Simon says.