title: Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin accelerates gastric wound healing in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin, a nanometer-sized artificial O2 carrier with a high O2 affinity (h-LEH), may facilitate O2 delivery to surgical wounds and thereby accelerate healing after gastrointestinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten mL/kg of h-LEH (n = 25), empty liposome (n = 21) or homologous washed red blood cells (RBC, n = 22) was intravenously infused prior to the creation of a 10 mm incision and interrupted suture closure of the gastric wall in rats. After two and four days, the stomach was excised and the bursting pressure was determined by gradually inflating the stomach with air. This procedure was followed by histological examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bursting pressure of the surgical wound was significantly higher two days after surgery in the h-LEH-treated rats in comparison to the control rats that received either empty liposome or RBC transfusion (P < 0.05). The three groups displayed similar bursting pressures four days after surgery. Histological examinations revealed less neutrophil infiltration, better granulation, and more macrophage infiltration in the h-LEH-treated rats after two days; however, these differences were no longer significant four days after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that h-LEH, but not a homologous transfusion or empty liposome, may accelerate early wound healing after a gastric incision and anastomosis in a rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kise
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogoshi
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008081:Liposomes; D010100:Oxygen