Thin sheets made from dried human placentas are showing promise in helping wounds heal with less scarring, based on studies in mice and human patients. These dressings, derived from the amniotic membrane, contain natural growth factors that promote better recovery. Researchers highlight their potential for treating surgical and chronic wounds, though more clinical trials are needed.
The use of dried placenta tissue as a wound dressing dates back to the early 1900s, when it was applied to burns to minimize scarring. Concerns over disease transmission led to its decline, but advances in sterilization techniques have revived interest in this approach.
Researchers process the amniotic membrane—the innermost layer of the placenta—harvested from donated placentas after planned Caesarean sections. This membrane is peeled, freeze-dried, cut into sheets, and sterilized with radiation, preserving healing compounds like growth factors and immune-modulating proteins while eliminating pathogens. The result is a tissue paper-like material suitable for wound coverage.
In a study led by Geoffrey Gurtner at the University of Arizona, surgical incisions were made on the backs of anaesthetized mice, with devices used to tension the wounds and delay healing. Untreated wounds formed large, lumpy scars, but those covered with human amniotic membrane dressings healed with thinner, flatter, and nearly invisible scars. The tissue's "immune privilege" prevented adverse reactions in the mice.
Human applications are already underway, permitted by the US Food and Drug Administration for surgical and chronic wounds, such as those from diabetes. A June 2025 analysis by Ryan Cauley at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston examined health records of 593 patients treated with these dressings for chronic wounds or burns, compared to 593 similar patients receiving other treatments. The amniotic group experienced fewer infections and hypertrophic scars.
Cauley and colleagues emphasized the need for "additional prospective, randomized studies with extended follow-up periods to validate these findings." Beyond skin, placental cells have shown potential in repairing heart injuries in mice, as reported in 2023 by Hina Chaudhry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
These developments underscore the placenta's untapped therapeutic value, potentially transforming wound care and regenerative medicine.
