Research into skin grafts has received a boost thanks to a £220,000 deal between a Canadian company and Bradford scientists.

Advanced Gel Technology (AGT), a spin off from the University of Bradford, has signed a deal that will see the same gel being used to seal oil wells and as a base to grow skin cells for burns victims.

The hydrogel was developed Dr Donald Eagland and Dr Nicholas Crowther, from AGT, in the University's department of pharmacy and the money from the deal will be used to fund further research into using it as a skin graft.

The substance has the ability to absorb virtually any liquid, either water or oil-based and is also able to support a variety of living cells and bacteria.

AGT, based in the Listerhills Science Park, has been working with Canadian firm Aqueolic to make the gel suitable for sealing cracks in oil wells to prevent water seeping through and has now been awarded a contract to use it in five sites. Work is due to begin in December and should be completed within six months.

Dr Eagland, science director at the company, said: "We have gone from nowhere to being a fully fledged company operating out in the big world within 12 months.

"If we are successful in the field, and we are very optimistic, who knows how big we could grow?

"All oil wells have this problem of cracks and the polymers they use at the moment don't work very well, so we could soon be selling all over the world.

"This is one of a number of key industry applications we have planned for the gel, but the partnership with Aqueolic is a very exciting start, since the potential volumes from the oil industry worldwide are enormous."

AGT signed its initial deal with Aqueolic last December and received £750,000 in funding before opening its plant at Listerhills earlier this year.

The two scientists continue to work at the university department while heading up AGT.