The biological effects of topical alginate treatment in an animal model of skin wound healing

Abstract

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process of tissue repair that involves a number of cellular and molecular events. It proceeds from inflammatory response to reepithelialization and finally to formation of a permanent scar. Alginate is a polymer of guluronic and mannuronic acid that is used as a scaffolding material in biomedical applications. For the purpose of studying wound healing, full-thickness skin defects were produced on the dorsal area in rats. We measured the relative sizes of the wounds on days 3, 5, 7, 14, and 28. The wound sizes were decreased in the alginate-treated group compared with the control group and the vaseline-treated group. The expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1, fibronectin, and vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly decreased in the alginate-treated group compared with the control group, while the expression of collagen-I was increased in the alginate-treated group, as indicated by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. These data suggest that alginate has significant wound healing promoting activity. The results from the present study indicate that the effect of alginate on wound healing may involve biological mechanisms associated with the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1, fibronectin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and collagen-I.

Acute and Impaired Wound Healing

“…Since the 1970s, alginate gels have been used as excipients in the pharmaceutical industry and later for management of acute and chronic wounds. 141–143 Gel biocompatibility and relatively mild gelation conditions make alginate gels promising vehicles for growth factor and cell delivery. 141 Weak growth factor–alginate interactions, however, can lead to uncontrolled rapid release rates.…”

Bioengineering the Skin–Implant Interface: The Use of Regenerative Therapies in Implanted Devices

“…Recent research with alginates, however, appear to indicate important wound-healing properties of significance for the skin-device interface, for instance, the decrease in TGF-b1 in wounds treated with topical alginate. 76 A review of the properties of other natural polysaccharides and their current biomedical uses has been published by Rinaudo. 121 …”

Development of fibroblast culture in three-dimensional activated carbon fiber-based scaffold for wound healing

“…Average weight and behavior did not change significantly during the experiment. Rats were anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (90 mg/kg) with xylazine (10 mg/kg) [29]. The dorsal area skin was shaved, application fields were outlined with a marker pen before skin excision, and the surgical area was disinfected with 70 % ethanol.…”