Intracellular delivery of adenosine triphosphate enhanced healing process in full-thickness skin wounds in diabetic rabbits

Abstract

Background Small unilamellar lipid vesicles were used to encapsulate adenosine triphosphate (ATP-vesicles) for intracellular energy delivery and were tested for diabetic skin wounds in rabbits. Methods Diabetes was induced by alloxan. The mean peak blood glucose concentration was 505 mg/dL. One ear was made ischemic and 80 full-thickness wounds were created in 10 animals. ATP-vesicles or saline was used and healing was compared. Results On the non-ischemic ears, mean closure time for ATP-vesicles–treated wounds was 13.7 days versus 16.4 days for saline-treated wounds ( P < .05). On the ischemic ears, mean closure time for ATP-vesicles–treated wounds was 15.3 days versus 19.3 days for saline-treated wounds ( P < .01). Histological study indicated better healing and re-epithelialization in the ATP-vesicles–treated wounds. Conclusions Intracellular delivery of ATP accelerated the healing process of diabetic skin wounds on ischemic and non-ischemic rabbit ears. The mechanisms deserve further study but may be related to improved cellular energy supplies.