Zinc-infused gel could help soldiers recover from blast injuries

Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) are conducting a 20-month study to explore how zinc can aid recovery from blast injuries, which frequently cause severe muscle and bone damage in soldiers. Led by nursing professor Zui Pan, the study focuses on mitigating secondary muscle damage that occurs after the initial trauma, often due to restricted blood flow (ischemia) and subsequent oxygen surges when circulation is restored. This secondary damage can worsen tissue destruction beyond the original injury. The team aims to develop a zinc-infused gel, using an FDA-approved material called gelatin methacryloyl, to promote muscle regeneration while carefully managing zinc dosing to avoid toxicity. The research is part of the UT System’s Trauma Research and Combat Casualty Care Collaborative (TRC4), targeting improved trauma treatments for both military and civilian patients. Given that blast injuries account for a significant majority of combat wounds—74% between 2001 and 2011 according to the Department of Veterans Affairs—the potential benefits of this