Wound Exudate Research Articles

Microbiome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of herbal sitz bath complementary therapy in accelerating postoperative recovery from perianal abscesses.

The herbal sitz bath formula, as a complementary therapy, effectively alleviates postoperative wound pain and accelerates healing time in patients with perianal abscesses. To investigate its mechanism of action, this study conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis on wound exudate samples from patients after perianal abscess surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving the herbal sitz bath as an adjunctive therapy and the other without this adjunctive therapy. Samples were collected on the first and eighth days after surgery to compare the differences in microbial community composition between the two groups on the eighth day and between the first and eighth days within each group. The study revealed that the herbal sitz bath significantly altered the structure of the microbial community, increasing its diversity and abundance. By reducing Enterococcus and increasing Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Ruminococcus, the therapy enhanced the wound's anti-infective capacity and accelerated healing. This study explored the potential mechanism of the herbal sitz bath formula as an adjunctive therapy in promoting postoperative recovery from perianal abscesses, providing valuable data for further research on the role of microorganisms in wound care. These findings contribute to optimising postoperative treatment regimens and facilitating patient recovery.

Platelet extracellular vesicles-loaded hydrogel bandages for personalized wound care.

Autologous or allogeneic platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) show potential in enhancing tissue recovery and healing chronic wounds. pEVs promote neovascularization and cell migration while reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and scarring. However, their efficacy in clinical settings is challenged by their susceptibility to washout by wound exudate. Hydrogel-based bandages are effective carriers that stabilize pEVs for optimal personalized wound care. These bandages can be tailored for easy removal to minimize damage to regenerated tissue and can incorporate antibacterial or moisture-retaining properties. Furthermore, the possibility of integrating sensors in the wound bed will enable a theragnostic approach to healing. This review explores advancements in pEV-loaded hydrogels and their potential for personalized clinical applications.

Exposure of Xenogeneic Biomaterial to the Oral Environment and Its Impact on Tissue Healing of Immediate Dental Implants: A Case–Control Study

This study evaluated the clinical and tomographic outcomes of socket healing. Immediate implants were placed in the molar area, and the gap was filled with either deproteinized bovine bone mineral (B) or collagen matrix (BM), n = 14/group. Scores of epithelization healing, immunoassay for VEGF, IL-1β, and FGF from wound exudate, keratinized mucosa variation (ΔKM), and bone levels were evaluated. The B group had slower tissue maturation than BM (p < 0.05), but gingival epithelialization was similar (p > 0.05). At the restorative phase, the B group exhibited greater ΔKM at prosthesis installation—1 to 2 months of postoperative (increase of 0.29 mm) compared to the BM group (reduction of −1.5 mm) (p < 0.05). Inflammatory tissue responses as well as vertical and horizontal bone remodeling were similar (p > 0.05). Crestal bone remodeling was limited to less than 0.8 mm for both groups. Taken together, the B and BM groups behaved similarly and promoted stable conditions for biomaterial incorporation in the socket healing after immediate implant placement in molar areas.

Relationship between ferroptosis and healing of diabetic foot ulcer: a prospective clinical study.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the common complications in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In order to find a method to monitor and treat the refractory DFU, the ferroptosis level in DFU and traumatic wounds (TW) was monitored and the difference between them was analyzed. At the same time, this study further analyzed the correlation of ferroptosis levels with DM severity and DFU's healing. A prospective cohort study was from January, 2021 to December, 2023 in the Second People's Hospital of Gansu province, which included 59 patients with DFU and 42 patients with TW. We then used the kit to detect the indicators related to ferroptosis, including 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), in the wound exudate of the two groups of patients. The DFU group had higher ferroptosis level than the TW group (4-HNE: P = 0.003, MDA: P<0.001, ROS: P<0.001). The severity of diabetes was significantly associated with ferroptosis level in DFU patients(r = 0.936, P <0.001). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that 4-HNE (β = -0.182, P = 0.008), MDA (β = -0.478, P <0.001) and ROS (β = -0.394, P<0.001) significantly negatively predicted the healing rate of DFU. As a new monitoring and therapeutic target, ferroptosis level plays an important role in predicting the healing rate of DFU and assisting clinical treatment decision-making.

3D printed Aloe barbadensis loaded alginate-gelatin hydrogel for wound healing and scar reduction: In vitro and in vivo study.

Wounds are one of the most critical clinical issues in plastic surgery repair and restoration. Conventional wound dressing materials cannot absorb enough wound exudates and shield the site from microbial infection. Also, despite their healing prowess, bioactive molecules from medicinal plants are less bioavailable at the wound sites. This study developed a 3D-printed hydrogel of sodium alginate and gelatin loaded with freeze-dried Aloe barbadensis extract for enhanced wound healing. The hydrogel was hydrophilic and showed an average pore size of 163.66 ± 14.45 μm, moderate swellability, and ideal mechanical properties with tensile strength(σ) of 16.39 ± 0.98 MPa, and Young's modulus of 17.43 ± 1.41 MPa. They showed potential antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (87.7 ± 4 % inhibition) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (84.4 ± 6 % inhibition). These hydrogels were hemocompatible, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Cell cytotoxicity assay and scratch assay showed effective Normal Human Dermal Fibroblast cells (NHDF) viability, proliferation, and migration on the hydrogel. In vivo studies of the 3D-printed hydrogel demonstrated significantly improved wound closure, reduced wound contraction, enhanced epithelial regeneration with minimal inflammation, and decreased scar formation after 14 days of treatment. Therefore, this 3D-printed hydrogel can be promising for wound healing with scar reduction.

Superabsorbent wound dressings for the management of highly exuding wounds: a literature review.

Exudate management is essential for creating a moist wound environment that promotes optimal healing, especially in highly exuding wounds, where choosing an appropriate wound dressing to handle high volumes of exudate is a key part of the wound management strategy. Superabsorbent wound dressings (SWDs) have been designed to absorb and retain large amounts of exudate. Thus, they are advocated for management of wounds with moderate-to-high levels of exudate to reduce the risk of leakage and damage to the periwound skin. The SWD category contains numerous brands with different structural and compositional designs. Those differences affect absorption capacity of the products, but also affect structural integrity, risk of leakage, adherence to the wound bed upon dressing removal etc. Herein, we aim to provide a brief overview of the clinical evidence and technical performance characteristics of the SWD category, and identify technical improvement areas. Clinical evidence within the SWD category was primarily limited to product evaluations, case series and case studies. With limited comparative clinical evidence available within this product category, we provide an overview of in vitro comparisons of technical performance characteristics related to absorption capacity, fluid retention, structural integrity, waterproofness, and ability to sequester host-derived enzymes and microorganisms. Substantial differences in in vitro performance characteristics in this product category were identified, which may have implications for their clinical performance. With the currently available in vitro evidence, there is no SWD showing superior performance across all functionalities, indicating a continued need for product development within this product category.

Absorbable Meek skin graft material transplantation: A preliminary experimental study.

Wound closure is the core issue in treating patients with extensive burns. Allogeneic grafts can serve as a suitable temporary substitute in third-degree burns, and the Meek technique has provided encouraging outcomes in recent decades. However, whether allografts and the Meek technique could be used simultaneously so as to leverage the strengths of both has not been extensively examined. Therefore, we aimed to develop absorbable Meek skingraft materials to achieve transplantation of allografts and autografts in a single step. Regenerated cellulose was used to make absorbable MEEK materials. The allogeneic skin donor and graft recipient were both pigs. Full-thickness skin excision wounds were made on both sides of the back as experimental and control groups respectively. The experimental group was transplanted with absorbable Meek material, which was then covered with an overlay of allografts. The control group was transplanted with Meek micrografting. Gross appearance and histology of the grafts were compared, as well as the level of four inflammatory factors in tissue samples. In the early postoperative period, there was little exudation of the wound and the allografts were viable. In the next few days, a thin eschar had formed on the surface of the allografts and the allografts transformed into a crust, and then separated from the wound. The wound healed by day 28. In the control group, the wound exudate was significantly more than that in the experimental group and most wounds had basically healed by day 21. Histology of allografts appeared intact by day 7, but the abundance of epidermal cells decreased, and then almost disappeared. Epithelialization was almost complete by day 28 in the experimental group，which was slightly later than in the control group. There were no significant differences in the level of inflammatory factors. The use of absorbable Meek skin graft materials allowed for the transplantation of autologous and allogeneic skin grafts in one step and can be expected to have a positive impact on the clinical treatment of extensive burn injuries. However, further improvements are needed to accelerate wound repair.

Multi-functional dressings for recovery and screenable treatment of wounds: A review.

Considerable research has focused on advanced wound dressing technology over the past decade. The increasing emphasis on health and medical treatment is crucial to the modern healthcare system. Consequently, high-quality wound dressings with advanced standards are essential for superior medical care. Next-generation multifunctional wound dressings feature antibacterial properties, pain relief, biocompatibility, drug delivery, flexibility, and exudate absorption. Today, biomimetic models, tissue engineering, and synthetic skin are integrated with emerging wound healing technologies, offering a new perspective on wound management. Based on the classification model of multifunctional and advanced wound dressings, various AI-assisted wound management technologies are also highly efficient. The primary goals of advanced wound dressing technologies include faster wound healing, prevention of microbial contamination, preservation of skin aesthetics, reduction of treatment costs, and increased patient comfort. The latest technologies in this field not only promote faster healing and the treatment of deep wounds but also emphasize continuous control and monitoring of the healing process. These screenable wound dressings can be smart sensors to detect wound status based on parameters such as pH, moisture, temperature, and oxygen levels. This enables wound status monitoring and appropriate treatment responses. These technologies facilitate wound observation and monitoring, as well as the evaluation and control of the healing process through various models and strategies, such as the fabrication of functional nanomaterials, computer algorithms, and artificial intelligence. This review presents an overview of the most prominent new technologies in wound dressings, along with their innovative approaches.

Top-down curing to construct self-retaining and moisture-pumping double-layered dressing with enhanced antibacterial, hemostatic, and wound healing performances.

Continuous microenvironment modulation is an ongoing challenge in wound dressing, which includes excessive exudate absorption, oxygen delivery, bacterial inhibition and angiogenesis. Herein, we developed an in situ construction strategy to fabricate a self-retaining double-layered wound dressing, where the top layer precursor was composed of Ca2+-containing polyvinyl butyral (PVB) solution dispersed with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) particles, and the bottom one consisted of sodium alginate (Alg) solution blended with Ag-doped mesoporous bioactive glass powders (Ag-MBG). When in use, both precursors were simultaneously squeezed out from the twin nozzles connected to the individual chambers of a twin-chambered syringe, whereby Ca2+ in the top layer rapidly migrated downwards to crosslink Alg in the bottom layer, leading to the formation of an Alg/Ag-MBG (AA) functional hydrogel for filling an irregular wound. Meanwhile, with the rapid evaporation of low-boiling solvents, the top layer changed into a PVB/HPMC (PH) membrane covering the AA hydrogel and adhering to the surrounding healthy skin to fix the dressing. Practically, HPMC particles in the top layer acting as "micropumps" could drain the wound exudate out, while Ag-MBG in the bottom layer endowed the dressing with anti-bacterial, hemostatic, and pro-healing functions. The integrally constructed PH-AA dressing achieved over 99% bacterial elimination against both E. coli and S. aureus. Biological assessments indicated that the double-layered dressing possessed excellent biocompatibility and enhanced wound healing, demonstrating a wound closure rate of >97% at day 15. This study provides a facile method to directly construct multi-layer dressings on wounds to meet various wound care requirements.

Fabrication and characterization of in situ gelling oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin nanofibers for wound healing applications.

Although tissue engineering science has made great progress, wound healing has remained a significant clinical challenge, especially in cases of severe injuries requiring advanced treatment strategies. This study aimed to develop patient-friendly in situ gelling nanofibers composed of oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) and gelatin for wound healing applications. A two-axial electrospinning technique was employed to fabricate OCMC/PVA-Gelatin hybrid nanofibers. Because of the nanofibers' high surface area, the resulting scaffold can quickly absorb wound exudates, resulting in a cross-linked hydrogel via the Schiff-base reaction between OCMC and gelatin. The nanofibers were thoroughly characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA, confirming their successful fabrication and structural integrity. Notably, the nanofibers demonstrated full degradation within 21days, aligning with the requirements for skin tissue regeneration. Antibacterial assays revealed 99.9% efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The electrospun OCMC/PVA and OCMC/PVA-Gel samples exhibited 91±10% and 92±7% cell viability after 7days of L929 fibroblast cell culture, confirming their excellent biocompatibility. These findings highlight the potential of the developed nanofibers as antimicrobial and biocompatible wound dressings with an appropriate degradation profile, presenting a practical and effective alternative to conventional hydrogel systems for advanced wound healing applications.

Silver nanoparticle-loaded konjac glucomannan/silk fibroin composite hydrogels for enhanced wound healing.

Hydrogel dressings with good biocompatibility and extracellular matrix mimetic structure are important for the treatment of skin wounds. In this study, antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) loaded with konjac glucomannan and silk fibroin (KGM/SF) composite hydrogel were used as a dressing for wound healing. The uniform distribution of Ag NPs on the surface of the hydrogels imparts excellent antibacterial properties to KGM/SF composite hydrogels. Furthermore, the incorporation of Ag NPs into KGM/SF composite hydrogels does not induce significant hemolysis, there by meeting the standards for wound dressings and exhibiting favorable biocompatibility. In addition, the SF distribution of complex hydrogel dressings is rich in amino groups, thus providing excellent biocompatibility and comfort. The KGM/SF composite hydrogels possess a porous network structure, which endows them with excellent water retention and the capability to absorb wound exudate. Additionally, this unique structure creates and maintains an optimal moist environment that facilitates wound healing. The KGM/SF composite hydrogel dressing loaded with Ag NPs exhibits excellent hemostatic ability in the skin defect model, thereby facilitating angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, and collagen accumulation to effectively promote wound healing.

Improvement of methods of treatment of long-term non-healing wounds

Among the common surgical diseases, a special place is occupied by the so-called chronic wounds. Foreign authors use this term to unite a group of complicated wounds of surgical origin (with spontaneous dehiscence of the edges or suppurated), as well as bedsores, fistulas, leg and foot ulcers. In Russian literature, this term is associated with long-term non-healing wounds and trophic ulcers. The prolonged nature of the healing of such defects makes it possible to resort to such a generalizing systematization. The aim of our study was to improve the results of treatment of patients with chronic wounds by using vacuum therapy in a set of measures aimed at positive correction of the prolongedly developing wound process. It has been established that in the treatment of chronic wounds under the influence of a low-dose vacuum on the vulnar zone, local tissue detoxification is observed, which is evidenced by an increase in the level of general toxicity of wound exudate obtained during vacuum therapy of a chronic wound.

Optimization and Standardization of Stable De-Epidermized Dermis (DED) Models for Functional Evaluation of Cutaneous Cell Therapies.

The human skin is a remarkable organ capable of extensive regeneration, especially after severe injuries such as burns and related wounds. The de-epidermized dermis (DED) model has become a valuable in vitro tool for skin regeneration studies, particularly for testing the mechanism of action and the efficacy of clinical cutaneous cell therapies. To further improve the quality and robustness of these applications, our study focused on optimizing and standardizing DED tissue preparation and storage, enhancing its effectiveness for clinical testing. Therefore, we optimized the air-liquid interfacial culture medium composition by simplifying the historical formulation without compromising keratinocyte (therapeutic cell model) viability or proliferation. Furthermore, we investigated the impacts of adding burn wound exudates in the model by focusing on cell behavior for enhanced translational significance. The results revealed notable differences in keratinocyte adhesion and proliferation between burn wound exudates collected at the early stages and late stages of acute patient treatment, providing new information on a possible therapeutic window to apply cell therapies on burn patients. Generally, this study reported a robust method for the preclinical in vitro assessment of keratinocyte-based cutaneous cell therapies using DED models. Overall, the study underscored the importance of using in vitro models with enhanced translational relevance to better predict the clinical effects of cutaneous cell therapies in burn patient populations.

Hydrogel-based nonwoven with persistent porosity for whole-stage hypertonic wound healing by regulating of water vaporization enthalpy.

Moisture induced by wound exudate is crucial throughout the wound repair process. The dressing directly affects the absorption, permeation, and evaporation of the wound exudate. However, most dressings in clinical often result in excessive dryness or moisture of wound due to their monotonous structure and function, leading to ineffective thermodynamic control of evaporation enthalpy. Herein, a hydrogel-based nonwoven dressing (Gel-Fabric) with asymmetric amphiphilic surface and persistent microscopic porous structure is constructed by integrating intrinsic hydrophilic absorbent hydrogel fibers and hydrophobic ultrafine PET fibers. The novel Gel-Fabric facilitates rapid vertical drainage of wound exudate through the capillary effect and Laplace pressure synergy. Additionally, dynamic stepwise moisture management is also achieved by regulating the vaporization enthalpy of exudate. In vivo experiments confirm that Gel-Fabric significantly promotes wound healing, vascularization, and endothelialization, achieving a higher healing rate than ordinary dressings. Furthermore, compared to the clinical dressings, Gel-Fabric significantly reduces the frequency of dressing changes, offering improved outcomes for patients and more efficient wound management for healthcare providers.

Glucose-Activated Janus Wound Dressing for Enhanced Management of Infected and Exudative Diabetic Wounds.

Diabetic wounds, often multifactorial and affecting multiple organs, pose substantial challenges to patient well-being, drawing significant interest in biomedical engineering. The demanding wound microenvironment, marked by heightened glucose levels, local exudate, and bacterial infections, emphasizes the pressing demand for advanced wound dressings to meet escalating clinical needs. Herein, a Janus wound dressing with an integration of an antimicrobial hydrophobic nanofiber layer and a 3D hydrophilic sponge was designed and prepared to manage and utilize wound exudate. The hydrophobic layer skillfully combined electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofiber membranes (ENMs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with peroxidase-like properties by solvent etching, and glucose oxidase (GOx) was grafted through ligand interaction. GOx acts to consume glucose while modulating pH, thus suitable pH and self-supplied H2O2 were able to activate the catalytic activity of MOFs to generate •OH. Additionally, hydrophilic 3D sponges are constructed using gas foaming technology, which are tactfully combined with hydrophobic ENMs to form a Janus structure, which can transport exudate through the antimicrobial layer to the sponge layer, while sufficient glucose contact with GOx enhances the antimicrobial properties of the designed Janus wound dressing. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the cascade effect of GOx@PCL/MOF ENMs, ultimately releasing reactive oxygen species and exhibiting robust antibacterial properties. In vivo animal experiments reveal the ability of the Janus wound dressing to mitigate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the early stages, thereby expediting the wound healing process. In vivo animal study, the Janus wound dressing achieved a healing rate of 54% on day 3. Our findings underscore the substantial potential of the Janus wound dressings in promoting the healing of chronic diabetic wounds.

Integrated 3D-Printed Hollow Microneedle Array and Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Point-of-Care Wound Healing Monitoring.

Chronic wound management requires continuous monitoring to assess healing and guide treatment. We developed a hollow microneedle array patch integrated with a lateral flow immunoassay strip to address the need for convenient, home-based diagnostics. This device extracts wound exudate directly from the wound matrix, overcoming the limitations of conventional swab sampling, which relies on surface exudate collection. The patch provides a minimally invasive, rapid solution to assess the wound healing phase. The immunoassay delivers a colorimetric signal visible to the naked eye, facilitating straightforward interpretation by clinicians within 10 min. In a clinical study involving 90 patients, matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP-8) was identified as a critical biomarker, achieving 80.3% sensitivity in detecting the proliferative phase. A specific lateral flow immunoassay for MMP-8 was developed with a detection limit of 0.7 ng/mL, lower than the threshold level for the proliferative healing phase (164.7 ng/mL). The hollow microneedle array patch was 3D-printed for cost-efficiency (less than €0.10 per patch) with a height of 865 ± 6 μm, allowing for a painless, easy sampling. Mechanical tests confirmed the durability of the patch, while cytotoxicity assays demonstrated its biocompatibility. Prevalidation using an ex vivo skin model showed the patch could extract 61 ± 6 μL of exudate, with a 122% recovery rate for MMP-8 detection, highlighting its efficiency in biomarker extraction. This approach represents a significant advance in decentralized wound care, offering a low-cost, user-friendly tool for at-home monitoring of chronic wounds, potentially improving early intervention and reducing hospital visits.

Chronic wound management: a liquid diode-based smart bandage with ultrasensitive pH sensing ability

Chronic wounds, which require prolonged healing periods, pose significant impacts on individuals with diabetes, vascular diseases, and high blood pressure. Simultaneous drainage and monitoring of wound exudate are vital for advanced wound management. However, recently reported smart dressings either lack integration of wound cleaning and monitoring functions or fail to achieve dynamic in situ monitoring of wound status, which hinders their ability to meet the demands of wound care. In this study, a smart bandage is introduced, which integrates a biocompatible liquid diode membrane with an ultrasensitive 3D polyaniline mesh (M-PANI)-based pH biosensor. The smart bandage allows for unidirectional drainage of wound exudate while dynamically sensing the wound pH environment. Specifically, the proposed smart bandage effectively cleans excessive wound exudate while providing real-time information on the wound status during the drainage process. The M-PANI-based pH biosensor demonstrates a high sensitivity of 61.5 mV/pH and a wide pH detection range from 4.0 to 10.0, encompassing the pH range of normal and infected wounds. Moreover, the sensing module exhibits excellent stability after 48 hours of dynamic testing and 28 days of storage, with only a 4.8% decline in the detected signal, and high repeatability with a device-to-device relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.1%. To evaluate the practicality of this smart bandage, simulated skin and rats have been employed, and the results indicate the immense potential of this smart bandage for clinical applications. In conclusion, the present smart bandage demonstrates considerable promise for wound exudate cleaning and monitoring in advanced wound care and offers a promising method for home-based wound management.

Glycyrrhizic Acid-Loaded Poloxamer and HPMC-Based In Situ Forming Gel of Acacia Honey for Improved Wound Dressing: Formulation Optimization and Characterization for Wound Treatment.

The present study aims to formulate a stimuli-responsive in situ hydrogel system to codeliver acacia honey and glycyrrhizic acid for topical application that will aid in absorbing wound exudates, control microbial infestation, and produce angiogenic and antioxidant effects to accelerate wound healing. Therefore, both the natural active constituents were incorporated within an in situ hydrogel composed of poloxamer and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), where the concentrations of the polymers were optimized using Design-Expert software considering optimum values of the dependent variables, gelation temperature (34-37 °C), gelation time (<10 min), and the viscosity (2000-3500 cPs). The optimized formulation showed improved physicochemical properties such as mucoadhesiveness, porosity, swelling, and spreadability, which makes it suitable for wound application. Additionally, the in situ hydrogel exhibited potent in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant effects, in vitro antimicrobial activities, and ex ovo angiogenic effects. Furthermore, the optimized formulation was found to be nontoxic while tested in the HaCaT cell line and acute dermal irritation and corrosion study. The findings of the in vivo wound-healing studies in experimental animal models showed complete wound closure within 15 days of treatment and accelerated development of the extracellular matrix. In addition, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, angiogenic, and wound-healing properties of acacia honey and glycyrrhizic acid coloaded in situ hydrogel were also found to be promising when compared to the standard treatments. Overall, it can be concluded that the optimized stimuli-responsive in situ hydrogel containing two natural compounds could be an alternative to existing topical formulations for acute wounds.

The cyclization of human salivary Histatin 1 via click chemistry for skin wound healing

Acute skin injuries can result in the breakdown of the skin barrier, heightening the risk of infections and complications. Histatin 1 (Hst1) promotes the adhesion, spreading, and migration of various skin-related cells, thus encouraging wound healing. However, Hst1 is extensively degraded upon exposure to wound exudates. Cyclized hst1 (Cyclic-hst1) has a much higher resistance to protease degradation than Hst1, thus increasing its stability and half-life. Herein, we synthesized Cyclic-hst1 via a click reaction and explored its efficacy in wound healing via cellular and animal experiments. Cyclic-hst1, at a 100-fold lower concentration than Hst1, effectively promoted acute skin wound healing. In addition, Cyclic-hst1 had a superior effect to Hst1 in terms of its anti-inflammatory, re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, and angiogenic effects, thus significantly promoting skin wound healing. Consequently, Cyclic-hst1 could represent a favorable treatment to manage acute skin wound healing, providing a promising experimental basis for clinical transformation and application.

Observational study of venous leg ulcer treated with a native collagen-alginate dressing and the impact on wound-related quality of life.

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are associated with various physical and social adverse effects for patients but also contribute to a significant socioeconomic burden. To examine the clinical performance and safety of a collagen-alginate dressing in combination with standard wound care in non-healing VLUs. In an observational, explorative, single-center study, VLUs of 60 patients were covered with a collagen-alginate dressing. Wounds were assessed during 5 visits over a 4-week period. At the final visit, health care professionals gave an overall assessment of the dressing. Outcome parameters were wound area reduction, wound pain, wound-related quality of life (QoL), and incidence of adverse events. The mean wound area decreased (17.8 ± 11.2 cm² versus 11.4 ± 9.0 cm²; P < .0001), and 4 patients achieved complete closure. Wound pain decreased after 2 weeks, and intake of analgesics reduced. Patients' wound-related QoL improved and a correlation between the well-being sub-score and wound area reduction was found. All health care professionals rated the collagen-alginate dressing as 'very good' or 'good.' The collagen-alginate dressing is safe and effective in promoting healing and addressing the pain of VLUs. It also improves patients' QoL, possibly by reducing wound area, pain, and exudate.