California-based medical device company Rapid Nexus Nanotech Wound Solutions sponsored the recently published peer-reviewed study showing that tissue previously considered non-salvageable and scheduled for amputation showed an ability to stabilize and heal when peripheral neuropathy was addressed through targeted intervention.

The company is developing technologies focused on a different aspect of chronic wounds: the degraded tissue surrounding the wound, known as the periwound. Rapid Nexus recently received FDA 510(k) clearance for Hemastyl Gel, the product is specifically engineered to treat this periwound tissue.

The company is also developing a complementary nerve stimulation device currently under FDA review. This research into nerve signaling and tissue recovery aligns directly with the company’s technological approach.

Study Results

The research focused on patients with long-standing, infected wounds that had not healed after at least three months of standard care; 19 of the 39 participants had already been diagnosed as needing amputation. The study evaluated the Hemastyl System, a two-part technology designed to target the underlying nerve damage (neuropathy) and poor blood flow around the wound, which are root causes of non-healing.

The results, gathered from two prospective cohorts, reported very high rates of wound closure, averaging 98% across all 39 patients. Critically, all patients who were facing amputation avoided the procedure. The treatment also led to rapid reduction of microbes in the wound, typically within one to two days. Furthermore, many patients reported subjective improvements in sensation and warmth in the affected limb, suggesting a recovery of nerve and vascular function.

Core Findings on Nerve Signaling and Healing

The study observed that when targeted intervention restored nerve signaling at the tissue level, the fundamental biological conditions necessary for healing re-emerged. This occurred even in advanced cases where standard care had failed, and amputation was the next clinical step.

The research challenges the long-held view of neuropathy as an irreversible endpoint. Instead, it frames nerve dysfunction as a central, modifiable determinant of whether damaged tissue can recover. Researchers observed that restoring nerve signaling at the tissue level allowed the necessary biological conditions for healing to re-emerge, even in advanced cases.

Peripheral neuropathy, commonly from diabetes or vascular disease, disrupts blood flow and cellular repair, leading to chronic wounds. Standard care often manages surface-level issues like infection without addressing this underlying nerve dysfunction.

“Neuropathy has long been treated as an endpoint—something clinicians manage around rather than address directly,” said Dr. Margaret Kalmeta, founder of Rapid Nexus. “This study suggests that when nerve signaling is restored, the body may regain the ability to stabilize and heal tissue that would otherwise be lost.”

The findings suggest that interventions targeting nerve function could alter the disease trajectory for millions of patients. By viewing neuropathy as a driver of tissue failure rather than a fixed condition, the focus shifts to potential earlier interventions that might preserve limbs and mobility.

Broader Context and Next Steps

The study contributes to growing evidence of nerve function’s decisive role in tissue viability. For Rapid Nexus, the research informs the development of its “dual-system” technology, which aims to both deliver regenerative material and provide bioelectric stimulation to periwound tissue.

The company’s stated goal is to separate the treatment of underlying neuropathy from wound care alone, potentially creating a standalone treatment for nerve damage. The technology is also being evaluated for other conditions, such as Charcot foot and pressure injuries.

This peer-reviewed publication represents a step in exploring the applications of neuropathy-focused interventions. Further clinical evaluation will determine the potential for these approaches to reduce the need for amputations and improve long-term patient outcomes.