THE CHALLENGE
Around 100 million people worldwide suffer from chronic wounds that won’t heal. Diabetic foot ulcers are among the most difficult to treat.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs): A Deadly Threat
DFUs are the leading cause of infections and leg amputations among chronic wounds. Every 20 seconds, someone with diabetes loses a leg due to amputation.
Often called a “silent killer,” DFUs have five-year mortality rates and treatment costs comparable to cancer [1]. Within five years, 30.5% of DFU patients die. Among those who undergo major amputations, over half will not survive beyond five years.
Nanordica™ Advanced Antibacterial Wound Dressing
A sterile, single-use dressing with a wound contact layer made of natural silk nanofibers powered by Premotiv™ nanotechnology.

Premotiv™ nanotechnology prevents infection and promotes wound healing at the same time.

Synergistic antibacterial nanoparticles blended into silk nanofibers
PRODUCT
Nanordica™ Advanced Antibacterial Wound Dressing comes in various sizes
NON-ADHESIVE
3 x 4 cm
4 x 5 cm
10 x 10 cm
20 x 20 cm
40 x 40 cm

ADHESIVE
7 x 8 cm
8 x 8 cm
8 x 9 cm
11 x 11 cm

Indications
All types of wounds including infected wounds
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Diabetic foot and foot ulcers
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Surgical wounds
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Dirty traumatic wounds
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Inflammed wounds
Properties
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Unique patented composition of nanofibers and nanoparticles
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Significantly improves wound healing
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Does not contain traditional antibiotics
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Cost-effective and long-lasting
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Breathable hypoallergenic
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Available in different sizes and with or without adherence
CLINICAL DATA
Controlled Trial at the North Estonian Medical Centre
A randomized controlled trial at the North Estonian Medical Centre included 30 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Patients were split into two groups: Group 1 received silver-based wound dressings, while Group 2 used Nanordica™ advanced antibacterial dressings. Both groups were treated for 1 week with 3 dressing changes.
The study monitored wound surface area and other parameters. Results showed that wounds treated with Nanordica™ dressings healed nearly twice as fast as those treated with silver-based dressings, confirming the effectiveness of the Premotiv™ nanotechnology.
SCIENCE
Copper and Silver Nanoparticles:
A New Class in Wound Care
Silver (Ag) has been used as an antimicrobial agent for thousands of years. It outperforms other antimicrobials like chitosan, iodine, honey, and polyhexanide (PHMB) [2, 3, 4, 5]. However, at high concentrations, silver can delay the growth of skin cells and slow wound healing.
To solve this issue, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) offer a controlled, prolonged release of silver directly near bacterial cells without harming skin cells [6].
Enhancing Silver with Copper
Nanordica Medical has developed a method to boost the effectiveness of Ag NPs by combining copper(Cu) and Ag nanoparticles. This innovation allows for a 30- to 10,000-fold reduction in silver use while improving both antibacterial and wound-healing outcomes.
Certain Cu and Ag NP combinations are up to six times more effective than either nanoparticle alone against a broad range of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains such as gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae [7]. Wound care materials with these combinations deliver superior antibacterial effects and safety, promoting faster wound healing.
A randomized clinical trial involving 30 patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers demonstrated that wound dressings with copper and silver nanoparticles reduced wound size twice as fast as traditional silver ion-based dressings.
Copper’s Role in Wound Healing
Beyond its antimicrobial properties, copper is critical for all stages of wound healing. It regulates the activity of key extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen, integrins, and fibrinogen. Copper stimulates angiogenesis by enhancing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leading to new blood vessel formation that supplies nutrients to healing tissues. It also influences matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that break down damaged tissue and support the formation of new tissue. Additionally, copper-dependent enzymes like lysyl oxidase cross-link collagen and elastin, strengthening tissue structure [8].

By combining Cu and Ag nanoparticles with nanofibers, we can create materials that both prevent infection and support wound healing. This innovation is poised to redefine standards in wound care and beyond.
Advanced Wound Care with Nanofibers
For even better wound healing, Cu and Ag NP combinations can be integrated into nanofibrous materials. Nanofibers act as scaffolds for skin cells, supporting adhesion, migration, and proliferation.
Silk-based nanofibers mimic the structure and function of ECM protein fibers, which regulate essential cellular processes [9, 10]. Animal studies have shown that nanofibrous wound dressings improve healing rates compared to traditional gauze [11].
Hydrophobic and Electrostatic Protection Against Bacteria
A key factor in bacterial adhesion is hydrophobic interaction [12]. Microbes attach to ECM components through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions or receptor-like surface proteins known as hydrophobins [13]. Silk fibroin, being hydrophobic and insoluble in water, exerts electrostatic forces that repel hydrophobic microorganisms in humid environments.
MISSION
We improve wound management, reduce healthcare costs, and help hundreds of millions of people with wounds by developing innovative products that prevent infection and promote wound closure simultaneously.
TEAM
Nanordica Medical is an Estonian medtech company founded by scientists and medical doctors, dedicated to transforming laboratory innovations into practical medical solutions. The company is Estonia’s National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics spin-off.
COLLABORATIONS & FUNDING











NEWS
Nanordica Medical OÜ · Register code: 14710113
Mäealuse 2/1, Tallinn, Harjumaa 12618, Estonia
References:
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Armstrong DG, Swerdlow MA, Armstrong AA, Conte MS, Padula WV, Bus SA. Five year mortality and direct costs of care for people with diabetic foot complications are comparable to cancer. J Foot Ankle Res. 2020 Mar 24;13(1):16.
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Du, W. L., Niu, S. S., Xu, Y. L., Xu, Z. R. & Fan, C. L. Antibacterial activity of chitosan tripolyphosphate nanoparticles loaded with various metal ions. Carbohydr Polym 75, (2009).
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Kumar, A., Bajaj, S. S. & Bajaj, J. K. A comparative study of efficacy of silver stream versus povidone iodine in healing the diabetic ulcers. International Surgery Journal 9, (2022).
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Shoukat, K., Pilling, S., Rout, S., Bradbury, J. & Humphreys, P. N. A systematic comparison of antimicrobial wound dressings using a planktonic cell and an immobilized cell model. J Appl Microbiol 119, (2015).
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Bondarenko, O. M. et al. Multilaboratory evaluation of 15 bioassays for (eco)toxicity screening and hazard ranking of engineered nanomaterials: FP7 project NANOVALID. Nanotoxicology 10, 1229–1242 (2016).
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Kubo, A.L.; Capjak, I.; Vrček, I.V.; Bondarenko, O.M.; Kurvet, I.; Vija, H.; Ivask, A.; Kasemets, K.; Kahru, A. Antimicrobial Potency of Differently Coated 10 and 50 nm Silver Nanoparticles against Clinically Relevant Bacteria Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus. Colloids Surfaces B Biointerfaces 2018, 170, 401–410, doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.06.027.
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Vasiliev, G., Kubo, A.-L., Vija, H., Kahru, A., Bondar, D., Karpichev, Y., & Bondarenko, O. (2023). Synergistic antibacterial effect of copper and silver nanoparticles and their mechanism of action. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 9202. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36460-2
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Kornblatt, A. P., Nicoletti, V. G., & Travaglia, A. (2016). The neglected role of copper ions in wound healing. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 161, 1–8.
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Lu G, Liu S, Lin S, Kaplan DL, Lu Q. Silk porous scaffolds with nanofibrous microstructures and tunable properties. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2014 Aug 1;120:28-37
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Ferraris S, Spriano S, Scalia AC, Cochis A, Rimondini L, Cruz-Maya I, Guarino V, Varesano A, Vineis C. Topographical and Biomechanical Guidance of Electrospun Fibers for Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel). 2020 Dec 3;12(12):2896. doi: 10.3390/polym12122896. PMID: 33287236; PMCID: PMC7761715.
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Sapru S, Das S, Mandal M, Ghosh AK, Kundu SC. Prospects of nonmulberry silk protein sericin-based nanofibrous matrices for wound healing - In vitro and in vivo investigations. Acta Biomater. 2018 Sep 15;78:137-150. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.07.047. Epub 2018 Jul 29. PMID: 30059800.
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Pace JL. Biofilms, infection and antimicrobial therapy. 2006
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Wessels, J.G. Hydrophobins: proteins that change the nature of a fungal surface. Adv Microb Physiol 1997; 38: 1-45.