The influence of cerium oxide nanocrystal (nanoceria) on full-thickness wound healing process in rats

Abstract

This work examines the effect of Cerium Dioxide Nanocrystal (Nanoceria) on healing process of full-thickness excisional wounds in rats. Rapid and effective wound healing requires a coordinated cellular response. Wound healing is a complex process in which the skin repairs itself after injury and replacing of devitalized and missing cellular structures, and tissue layers takes place. In the absence of underlying disease, almost every full-thickness wound will heal with minimal intervention; however, the process can be enhanced by judicious wound management and knowledge of wound healing principles and practices. Wound care encourages and speeds wound healing via cleaning and protection from re-injury or infection. Timing is important to wound healing. Critically, the timing of wound reepithelization can affect the outcome of the healing. Selection of an appropriate and efficient wound dressing material plays a key role. We have shown that a simple topical application of Nanoceria significantly reduces the timing of the healing process comparing to the untreated rats. In the present study, cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were incorporated into Carbopol / gelatin films in order to develop a potential wound dressing material. The wound dressings were prepared by electrospinning. The film containing 0.05 % CeO2 (dissolved in 0.5 % Carbopol) nanoparticles was chosen as the optimal dressing for the in vivo study on full-thickness excisional wounds of rats. The study showed that after 2 weeks the wounds treated with the CeO2 nanoparticle-containing dressing achieved a significant closure to nearly 100 %. In the model of full-thickness skin wound, the complete wound closure in the control group of animals occurred on the 23.0 ± 0.8 day while in experimental group the time of full repair decreased by 13.0 % compared to the control and was equal to 20.0 ± 0.5 day. Thus, our results provide evidence supporting the possible applicability of CeO2 nanoparticle-containing wound dressing for a successful wound treatment as it accelerates complete wound closure and reduced wound area in comparison with non-treated animals.