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What do you do when you have a flesh wound? Chances are you slather on some ointment, slap on a bandage and you’re good to go. But for people whose bodies don’t heal properly, a wound can result in a chronic injury, amputation or even death.
This was the case for Julian Mulia’s parents, who passed away as a result of chronic health conditions. So Mulia teamed up with former co-worker Megan Leslie to co-found NanoTess, a nano-material science company that creates catalytic solutions to enhance global health outcomes.
The NanoSALV Catalytic Advanced Wound Care Treatment enhances the healing process of wounds stuck in an inflammatory cycle. The salve has proven to significantly improve healing outcomes and save approximately 46 per cent of wound care costs. When given to people experiencing homelessness through community paramedic organizations, paramedics found that the wounds were closed or significantly healed within weeks.
“We design products for the 99 per cent, not just the one per cent,” explains Leslie, NanoTess’s CEO. “This means providing affordable and accessible products, and getting them into the hands of people who need them.”
NanoTess has also worked with remote Indigenous communities, which have some of the highest rates of diabetic foot ulcers. Mulia, NanoTess’s COO, explains that for people with limited access to hospitals, treating chronic conditions at home can drastically increase their quality of life. It also helps eliminate the shame associated with these conditions.
“It’s a silent pandemic because you’re not going around telling people, ‘Hey, I have a massive wound in my coccyx,’” says Mulia. “It’s a very personal problem, which left untreated can cascade into worse comorbidities.”
The technology has received awards like the CAN Health Network 2023 Innovation Award, the A100 2022 One to Watch and Start Alberta’s 2022 Most Promising Startup Entrepreneur.
