title: Design and characterization of a chitosan physical gel promoting wound healing in mice.
abstract: In this study, a sterile and biocompatible chitosan (CHI) gel for wound healing applications was formulated. CHI powder was treated in autoclave (ttCHI) to prepare sterile formulations. The heat treatment modified the CHI molecular weight, as evidenced by GPC analysis, and its physical-chemical features. Differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated that the macromolecules, before and after thermal treatment, differ in the strength of water-polymer interaction leading to different viscoelastic and flow properties. Thermally treated CHI exhibited the following effects: (i) increased the proliferation and migration of human foreskin foetal fibroblasts at 24 h; (ii) accelerated wound healing (measured as area of lesion) at 3 and 10 days in an in vivo model of pressure ulcers. These effects were linked to the increase of the hydroxyproline and haemoglobin content as well as Wnt protein expression. Moreover, we found a reduction of myeloperoxidase activity and TNF-α mRNA expression. These observations suggest the potential of this novel CHI gel in wound healing and other therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayol
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Campani
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cencetti
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matricardi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maiuri
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carnuccio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Maiuri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rosa
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005782:Gels / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006244:Hardness; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D033081:Shear Strength; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014783:Viscosity; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D048271:Chitosan