EHO-85, Novel Amorphous Antioxidant Hydrogel, Containing Olea europaea Leaf Extract—Rheological Properties, and Superiority over a Standard Hydrogel in Accelerating Early Wound Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Many advanced wound healing dressings exist, but there is little high-quality evidence to support them. To determine the performance of a novel amorphous hydrogel (EHO-85) in relation to its application, we compared its rheological properties with those of other standard hydrogels (SH), and we assessed the induction of acceleration of the early stages of wound healing as a secondary objective of a prospective, multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled trial. The patients were recruited if they had pressure, venous, or diabetic foot ulcers and were treated with EHO-85 (n = 103) or VariHesive® (SH) (n = 92), and their response was assessed by intention-to-treat as wound area reduction (WAR (%)) and healing rate (HR mm2/day) in the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Results: EHO-85 had the highest shear thinning and G′/G″ ratio, the lowest viscous modulus, G″, and relatively low cohesive energy; EHO-85 had a significantly superior effect over SH in WAR and HR, accelerating wound healing in the second and fourth weeks of application (p: 0.002). This superiority is likely based on its optimal moisturizing capacity and excellent pH-lowering and antioxidant properties. In addition, the distinct shear thinning of EHO-85 facilitates spreading by gentle hand pressure, making it easier to apply to wounds. These rheological properties contribute to its improved performance.

Hard-to-Heal Wound Healing: Superiority of Hydrogel EHO-85 (Containing Olea europaea Leaf Extract) vs. a Standard Hydrogel. A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…EHO-85 is an amorphous hydrogel designed and evaluated by our group [16,41], made of (1) purified water; (2) triethanolamine (TEA), an agent for gelling and hydrogel network formation [50]; (3) carbopol 980, a crosslinked acrylic-acid polymer with very good rheological properties, easily and rapidly dispersible, providing an effective insulating barrier to wound beds [50]; (4) Olea europaea leaf extract (OELE), the active compound, included for its antioxidant properties in the wound bed [16]; (5) disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na 2 -EDTA), for its antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties [51]; (6) geogard ultra (gluconolactone, sodium benzoate and calcium gluconate) as an antimicrobial; (7) glycerin [52]; and ( 8) fucocert (L-fucose, D-galactose and galacturonic acid) [53], moisturizing and self-emulsifying agents, which create a film on the ulcer for its protection, being important for elasticity and repair. The formulation also includes an acid pH (range 5.0-5.5).…”

“…Besides, the rheological characteristics of the EHO-85 amorphous hydrogel make it easy to apply to wounds by gentle manual pressure, facilitating deposition on wounds with simple manipulation, compared to other usual hydrogels, which could facilitate better compliance in wound care [41].…”

Comparative Study of the Efficacy of EHO-85, a Hydrogel Containing Olive Tree (Olea europaea) Leaf Extract, in Skin Wound Healing

“…It consists of a hydrogel composed of geogard ultra, carbopol 980, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Na 2 -EDTA), trieathanolamine, glycerin, and fucocert, plus 0.1% OELE [28]. The rheological properties of EHO 85 have also been recently reported [55]. Additionally, the phenolic composition of OELE has been determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [28].…”