065 Improving Integra™“Take” with Negatively Charged Methacrlylic Acid Beads

Abstract

Introduction: Integra™ has gained acceptance as a dermal replacement for large burns with limited donor sites. Integra™ vascularization takes between 14 and 21 days. Accelerating the vascularization of Integra™ could improve “take” rates and potentially decrease the obligatory waiting period between application and autografting. Hypothesis: Application of negatively charged methacrylic acid (MAA) beads will enhance vascularization of Integra™ Methods Male Wistar rats (n = 11) had two 2 × 3 cm contra lateral dorsal full thickness wounds excised and grafted using Integra™. The MAA beads were applied under the Integra™ topically on the wound bed. Three experimental treatments were compared: Group 1‐ high‐dose MAA beads, Group 2‐ low‐dose MAA beads, Group 3‐ Integra only. Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) to assess perfusion, as well as digital photography was done on days 7,10 and 14. Tissue samples for H + E and Factor VIII histological staining were collected on day 14. Results: The average “take” was 99%(p < 0.05) for high‐dose MAA beads, 98%(p < 0.05) for low‐dose MAA beads and 82% in the Integra™ only group at day 7. At day 7 (p < 0.01) and day 10 (p < 0.05), the low‐dose MAA group had significantly greater perfusion than the Integra™ only group. There were no statistically significant differences at day 14. Microvessel density (MVD) counts revealed a >40% increase in the number of vessels in both the low‐dose MAA (p < 0.05) and high‐dose MAA (p < 0.05) groups when compared to the Integra™ only group. There was no difference in LDI perfusion or MVD counts between low and high‐dose MAA groups. Conclusion: Factor VIII staining revealed enhanced angiogenesis in Integra™ treated with low and high‐dose negatively charged MAA beads. Low‐dose negatively charged MAA beads improved and accelerated the vascularization of Integra™ in this rodent model.