Intracellular delivery of adenosine triphosphate enhanced healing process in full-thickness skin wounds in diabetic rabbits.
BACKGROUND
Small unilamellar lipid vesicles were used to encapsulate adenosine triphosphate (ATP-vesicles) for intracellular energy delivery and were tested for diabetic skin wounds in rabbits.


METHODS
Diabetes was induced by alloxan. The mean peak blood glucose concentration was 505 mg/dL. One ear was made ischemic and 80 full-thickness wounds were created in 10 animals. ATP-vesicles or saline was used and healing was compared.


RESULTS
On the non-ischemic ears, mean closure time for ATP-vesicles-treated wounds was 13.7 days versus 16.4 days for saline-treated wounds (P < .05). On the ischemic ears, mean closure time for ATP-vesicles-treated wounds was 15.3 days versus 19.3 days for saline-treated wounds (P < .01). Histological study indicated better healing and re-epithelialization in the ATP-vesicles-treated wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracellular delivery of ATP accelerated the healing process of diabetic skin wounds on ischemic and non-ischemic rabbit ears. The mechanisms deserve further study but may be related to improved cellular energy supplies.
Wang
Jianpu
J
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. j0wang19@louisville.edu
Wan
Rong
R
Mo
Yiqun
Y
Li
Ming
M
Zhang
Qunwei
Q
Chien
Sufan
S
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D042541:Intracellular Space; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate