51. Controlled release of thymosin beta 4 using a collagen-chitosan sponge scaffold augments cutaneous wound healing and increases angiogenesis in diabetic rats with hindlimb ischemia.
- Author
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Ti D, Hao H, Xia L, Tong C, Liu J, Dong L, Xu S, Zhao Y, Liu H, Fu X, and Han W
- Subjects
- Angiogenesis Inducing Agents administration & dosage, Angiogenesis Inducing Agents chemistry, Animals, Bandages, Biocompatible Materials chemical synthesis, Chitosan chemistry, Collagen chemistry, Delayed-Action Preparations administration & dosage, Diffusion, Equipment Design, Equipment Failure Analysis, Male, Materials Testing, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Thymosin chemistry, Tissue Scaffolds, Treatment Outcome, Delayed-Action Preparations chemical synthesis, Diabetic Foot therapy, Neovascularization, Physiologic drug effects, Skin, Artificial, Thymosin administration & dosage, Wound Healing drug effects
- Abstract
It is important to establish an efficient vascularization for the long-term acceptance of bioengineered skin equivalents treating the cutaneous wounds of diabetic rats with hindlimb ischemia. This study investigates the possible use of a collagen-chitosan sponge scaffold encapsulated with thymosin beta 4 (CCSS-eTβ4), an angiogenic factor, to accelerate cutaneous wound healing in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with hindlimb ischemia. CCSSs-eTβ4 was fabricated using a freeze-drying method. The scaffolds were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, swelling and degradation assays, mechanical properties, and scaffolds of 50:50 collagen-chitosan were selected and applied. The controlled release of Tβ4 from the scaffolds elicited localized and prolonged effects over 12 days, as shown by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vivo, CCSSs-eTβ4 improved diabetic cutaneous wound healing, with faster wound reepithelialization, better dermal reorganization, and higher wound vascularization. Furthermore, CCSSs-eTβ4 downregulated inflammatory genes and upregulated angiogenic genes in the wound tissue. Significant increases in CD31-positive endothelial cells and new vessel density were also observed. In vitro, Tβ4 increased the migratory and proliferative activity of high glucose (HG)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Meanwhile, we found that Tβ4 could promote HG-treated HUVECs migration and improve angiogenesis by activation of the VEGF/AKT pathway. Overall, these findings demonstrated the promising potential of CCSSs-eTβ4 to promote more effective wound healing and suggest its possible application for diabetic cutaneous wound treatment.
- Published
- 2015
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