Wound Healing Modulation through the Local Application of Powder Collagen-Derived Treatments in an Excisional Cutaneous Murine Model

Porous Functionally Graded Scaffold prepared by a single-step freeze-drying process. A bioinspired approach for wound care

Nowadays, chronic wounds are the major cause of morbidity worldwide and the healthcare costs related to wound care are a billion-dollar issue; chronic wounds involve a non-healing process that makes necessary the application of advanced wound dressings to promote skin integrity recovery. Functionally Graded Scaffolds (FGSs) are currently driving interest as promising candidates in mimicking the skin tissue environment and, thus, in enhancing a faster and more effective wound healing process. Aim of the present work was to design and develop a porous FGS based on κ-carrageenan (κCG) for the management of chronic skin wounds; a freeze-drying process was optimized to obtain in a single-step a three-layered FGS characterized by a pore size gradient functional to mimic the structure of native skin tissue. In addition to κCG, arginine and whey protein isolate were used as multifunctional agents for FGS preparation; these substances can not only intervene in some stages of wound healing but are able to establish non-covalent interactions with κCG, which were responsible for the production of layers with different pore size, water content capability and mechanical properties. Cell migration, adhesion and proliferation within the FGS structure were evaluated in vitro on fibroblasts and FGS wound healing potential was also studied in vivo on a murine model.

Development of a highly porous bioscaffold by the combination of bubble entrapping and freezing-thawing techniques to fabricate hyaluronic acid/gelatin tri-layer wound dressing

The electrospun nanofibers and porous scaffolds hold great promise in regenerative medicine. A novel nanofiber-hydrogel‑silicone tri-layer wound dressing has been designed and fabricated to address the limitations of each platform. The bottom nanofiber layer with a 110 mm diameter meets the wound surface and regulates cell attachment and migration. The middle hydrogel layer was fabricated through the optimization of chemical crosslink formation and freezing-thawing cycles (physical crosslink). The fabricated hydrogel with interconnected porous structure has optimized properties (gel fraction (89.45 %) and porosity (80 %)) for wound dressing application. The silicone layer on the outer surface was designed to fix the wound dressing on the skin and prevent the penetration of pathogens. The scanning electron microscope micrograph showed structural integrity in the tri-layer scaffold. In vivo data showed that the tri-layer scaffold accelerates wound healing in the mice model and angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane model. Therefore, the designed scaffold inspired by the skin's structure can be used as a wound dressing to treat wounds.

Polymer-Based Hydrogel Loaded with Honey in Drug Delivery System for Wound Healing Applications

Excellent wound dressings should have crucial components, including high porosity, non-toxicity, high water absorption, and the ability to retain a humid environment in the wound area and facilitate wound healing. Unfortunately, current wound dressings hamper the healing process, with poor antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity, frequent dressing changes, low biodegradability, and poor mechanical properties. Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains with three-dimensional (3D) networks that have been applicable as wound dressings. They could retain a humid environment on the wound site, provide a protective barrier against pathogenic infections, and provide pain relief. Hydrogel can be obtained from natural, synthetic, or hybrid polymers. Honey is a natural substance that has demonstrated several therapeutic efficacies, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activity, which makes it beneficial for wound treatment. Honey-based hydrogel wound dressings demonstrated excellent characteristics, including good biodegradability and biocompatibility, stimulated cell proliferation and reepithelization, inhibited bacterial growth, and accelerated wound healing. This review aimed to demonstrate the potential of honey-based hydrogel in wound healing applications and complement the studies accessible regarding implementing honey-based hydrogel dressing for wound healing.

Kangfuxin solution for treatment of gastric ulcer: Efficacy and impact on serum VEGF and ERK12 levels

BACKGROUND

Kangfuxin solution can improve microcirculation and promote mucous membrane repair, and has a significant effect in ulcer disease. This study applied Kangfuxin solution to the treatment of gastric ulcer and analyzed its effect on the repair of gastric ulcer.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of Kangfuxin solution combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of gastric ulcer complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its effect on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2).

METHODS

Prospectively, 48 patients with gastric ulcer treated at our hospital from January 2021 to August 2021 were selected as study subjects and randomly divided into either a control group or an observation group, with 24 cases in each group. Both groups received conventional treatments for gastric ulcer such as acid suppression, gastric mucosa protection, and antibiotics, and the observation group was additionally treated with Kangfuxin solution for 8 wk. The clinical effects, mucosal microvascular morphology, serum levels of ERK1/2 and VEGF, immune-responsive T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+), histological maturation of the regenerated mucosa, gastric fluid pH, and the incidence of adverse effects and recurrence rate were recorded.

RESULTS

The overall clinical efficiency of the observation group was 95.83%, which was higher than that of the control group (66.67%; P < 0.05). The proportion of regular microvascular network was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of VEGF and ERK1/2 were higher in the observation group than in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). The percentages of CD3⁺ T lymphocyte and CD4⁺ T lymphocyte, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The area of collagen fiber deposition, types Ⅰ/Ⅱ collagen ratio, hydroxyproline content, and gastric fluid pH were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05), and the 3-mo recurrence rate in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (4.17% vs 33.33%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Kangfuxin solution combined with conventional drugs for the treatment of gastric ulcer complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can significantly improve clinical efficacy, promote ulcer healing, and reduce the risk of recurrence, without significantly increasing adverse drug reactions.

New insights into balancing wound healing and scarless skin repair

Scars caused by skin injuries after burns, wounds, abrasions and operations have serious physical and psychological effects on patients. In recent years, the research of scar free wound repair has been greatly expanded. However, understanding the complex mechanisms of wound healing, in which various cells, cytokines and mechanical force interact, is critical to developing a treatment that can achieve scarless wound healing. Therefore, this paper reviews the types of wounds, the mechanism of scar formation in the healing process, and the current research progress on the dual consideration of wound healing and scar prevention, and some strategies for the treatment of scar free wound repair.

Silk Fibroin Biomaterials and Their Beneficial Role in Skin Wound Healing

The skin, acting as the outer protection of the human body, is most vulnerable to injury. Wound healing can often be impaired, leading to chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. For this reason, searching for the most effective dressings that can significantly enhance the wound healing process is necessary. In this regard, silk fibroin, a protein derived from silk fibres that has excellent properties, is noteworthy. Silk fibroin is highly biocompatible and biodegradable. It can easily make various dressings, which can be loaded with additional substances to improve healing. Dressings based on silk fibroin have anti-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic properties and significantly accelerate skin wound healing, even compared to commercially available wound dressings. Animal studies confirm the beneficial influence of silk fibroin in wound healing. Clinical research focusing on fibroin dressings is also promising. These properties make silk fibroin a remarkable natural material for creating innovative, simple, and effective dressings for skin wound healing. In this review, we summarise the application of silk fibroin biomaterials as wound dressings in full-thickness, burn, and diabetic wounds in preclinical and clinical settings.