title: Efficacy of gelatin gel sheets sustaining epidermal growth factor for murine skin defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in wound healing. However, EGF must be applied daily due to rapid inactivation in vivo. We investigated the sustained release of EGF from gelatin gel sheets (GGSs) and the efficacy of GGSs impregnated with EGF for promoting wound healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  GGSs impregnated with EGF were prepared by cross-linking via glutaraldehyde to gelatin solution containing EGF. The sustained release of EGF and the bioactivity of released EGF were evaluated. Then, three kinds of GGSs containing NSS (normal saline solution; NSS group), 2.5 μg of EGF (EGF-L group), or 25 μg of EGF (EGF-H group) were applied to full-thickness skin defects created on the backs of mice. The wounds covered with polyurethane film without GGS were used as a control (PUF group). The wound area, neoepithelium length, regenerated granulation tissue, and newly formed capillaries were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGF was sustained and released from GGS as it degraded. The bioactivity of released EGF was confirmed. EGF-L group promoted the neoepithelium length, regenerated granulation tissue, and newly formed capillaries compared with those in the PUF and NSS groups. The area of regenerated granulation tissue in the NSS group (week 1: 2.6 + 0.2 mm(2), week 2: 2.8 + 0.3 mm(2)) was larger than that in the PUF group (week 1: 0.6 + 0.1 mm(2), week 2: 1.0 + 0.1 mm(2)). The area of newly formed capillaries in the EGF-L group (9967 + 1903 μm(2)) was larger than that of the EGF-H group (3485 + 1050 μm(2)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GGSs impregnated with EGF-L showed promising results regarding wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan. Electronic address: morimotn@hirakata.kmu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Chizuru
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jinno
authors.affiliation: Gunze Limited Medical Division, Ayabe, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuguyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D005976:Glutaral; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D005780:Gelatin; D005976:Glutaral
keywords: Epidermal growth factor; Gelatin gel sheet; Murine skin defects; Sustained release; Wound healing