Wound healing of burns in rats treated with a new amino acid copolymer membrane

Abstract

A new amino acid copolymer (leucine+methylglutamate) membrane which is moderately permeable to water vapour, impermeable to bacteria, non-biodegradeable and stable, has been developed as a burn wound covering. In an experimental model in the rat, excised burn lesions were covered either with the membrane or with conventional petrolatum-impregnated gauze. Morphometric analyses and histological investigations performed on days 7, 14, 21 and 42, suggested a significantly increased rate of healing for wounds covered with the polymeric membrane as compared with those covered with impregnated gauze. No wound dessication, fluid retention or exudate was observed under the membrane due to its moderate permeability to water vapour. The wounds covered with impregnated gauze also showed a marked inflammatory response in the granulation tissue, which remained even at day 42. This appearance was very different from a normal dermis or a polymeric membrane treated dermis.