Effect of novel blend nanofibrous scaffolds on diabetic wounds healing.

Abstract

Chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) (Cs: PVA) (2:3) and poly (caprolactone)-chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) (PCL: Cs: PVA) (2:1:1.5) nanofibrous blend scaffolds were fabricated using the electrospinning technique in the authors' previous studies. The results of the previous studies confirmed the high biological properties of the scaffolds and their ability in healing of burn and excision wounds on rat model. In the present study, the biological scaffolds were applied on diabetic dorsum skin wounds and diabetic foot wound on rat models (n = 16). Macroscopic and microscopic investigations were carried out using digital images and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining respectively, to measure the wound areas and to track wound healing rate. It was found that at all time points the areas of wounds treated with nanofibrous scaffolds were smaller compared with the controls. Pathological results showed much better healing efficacy for the test samples compared with the control ones. Pathological investigations proved the presence of more pronounced granulation tissues in the scaffold-treated wounds compared with the control ones. At 20 days post excision, the scaffold-treated groups achieved complete repair. The results indicated that Cs: PVA and PCL: Cs: PVA nanofibrous webs could be considered to be promising materials for burn, excision and diabetic wounds healing.