NanoTess Gel Treats 6,000 Ukrainian Injuries via Drone Delivery
Calgary-developed wound management system is now standard protocol on the front lines, reducing the need for continuous nursing care.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Six thousand wounded soldiers and civilians have received treatment with NanoSALV since the product launched on the Ukrainian front lines in June. The lightweight, non-flammable gel is delivered by drone to combat zones, allowing personnel with limited medical training to apply it directly to injuries. The therapy, developed by Calgary-based NanoTess, utilizes nanomaterials to accelerate the body's natural healing process while combating infection-causing microorganisms.
NanoTess co-founder and CEO Megan Leslie noted the full circle of the project's origin. The company was initially funded by a grant from Canada's Department of National Defence in 2020. After receiving Health Canada approval for the NanoSALV Catalytic in 2022, the firm tested the treatment on unhoused populations in encampments before expanding its use to military contexts in 2026.
Clinical data from the program was presented at the CAN Health Network Annual Conference in Toronto on Wednesday. Hailie Uren, a clinical pharmacist with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, emphasized the logistical advantages of the product. In eastern Ukraine, one nurse is often responsible for up to 90 patients. The catalytic gel allows wounds to heal without consistent nursing intervention, effectively buying critical time on the battlefield.
Uren reported high demand for the treatment among hospital staff. She visits newly admitted casualties the day after arrival to assess their wounds. During these rounds, other patients in the room often point out their own injuries, hoping to receive the gel as well. Uren has worked in eastern Ukraine for the past four years and described the product as essential for managing patient loads in strained medical facilities.
The technology has also drawn attention in Canada following a wildfire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright earlier this month. The incident killed four soldiers and burned dozens of others. Dr. Eric Fung, an Alberta-based surgeon who has spent time in Ukraine, stated that his colleagues used the gel to treat larger burn injuries in Edmonton.
Fung explained that the product helps manage mass casualty events by reducing the strain on the healthcare system. In such scenarios, hospitals must rapidly process new patients to free up space. The gel facilitates this by allowing for quicker patient turnover, a benefit that extends beyond the battlefield to domestic emergency response.
