Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels for full-thickness wound repairing and skin regeneration

Abstract

In this work, two kinds of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels were fabricated: one is made from physical freezing-thawing of HA solution (HA1), and the other is from chemical cross-linking of HA and polysaccharide (HA2). They were applied to repair full-thickness skin defects with New Zealand rabbits as the test animals, using powder HA and cotton dress as the references. The wound starts to heal after wounds were disinfected with iodine followed by coating with HA2, HA1, HA and cotton dress (the control), respectively. They were recorded as 4 treatments (groups), HA2, HA1, HA and the control. The healing progress was followed and tested in the duration of 56 days, and the biological repairing mechanism was explored. From the wound area alteration, white blood cell (WBC) measurements and H&E staining, HA2 was the most promising treatment in promoting the wound healing with least serious scar formation. Immunochemistry analyses and real-time PCR tests of the bio-factors involved in the wound healing, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), exhibited that HA2 enhanced VEGF and α-SMA secretion but reduced TGF-β1 expression at early stage, which alleviated the wound inflammation, improved the skin regeneration and relieved the scar formation.

Regeneration of Dermis: Scarring and Cells Involved

“…Unlike adult FBs, fetal FBs do not reduce HA synthesis with an increase in cell density [86]. The HA-based matrix is effective as a regenerative skin matrix [87,88,89,90]. In addition to the high content of collagen III and HA in the fetal dermis, there is plenty of fibronectin and a rapid deposition of tenascin in fetal wounds, which provides rapid deposition of the matrix and early wound epithelization [75].…”

Hydrogel-Based Active Substance Release Systems for Cosmetology and Dermatology Application: A Review

“…Among these properties, the most important are high molecular and oxygen permeability, low interfacial tension, good mechanical properties, and moisturizing abilities [124]. Due to the fact that polysaccharides have the ability to create biocompatible and biodegradable three-dimensional structures, they are considered by numerous groups of scientists as promising materials used to heal various types of wounds [125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142][143][144]. Muthuramalingam et al examined the possibility of using a hydrogel prepared using immunomodulatory β-glucan.…”

“…Ying et al developed a biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel based on collagen I and hyaluronic acid characterized by a porous structure that contributed to the possibility of water retention, gas exchange, nutrition penetration, and cell maintenance, which in turn promoted spontaneous wound healing through the formation of blood vessels, reepithelialization, and production of collagen fibers [142]. Hyaluronic acid was also used for the production of hydrogels by Hong et al The application of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels in repairing skin defects in New Zealand rabbits resulted in promoting wound healing by changing gene activity, improving skin regeneration, and reducing scar formation [143]. Heparin is another polysaccharide used in the production of hydrogels.…”

<p>First Use of Thermal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Injection in One-Year Follow-Up Patients with Genitourinary Syndrome</p>

“…16 Free hyaluronic acid is characterized by biostimulation properties. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Its action realizes in the dermic layer, near to fibroblastic cells, promoting the epidermal keratinocyte proliferation too. Its stereometric large volume does not allow it to cross the intact skin, and only injections can deposit HA in the correct site.…”

“…The crosslinked form (filler) is used for hydrodynamic volume replacement of the extracellular matrix to reduce the clinical effects of aging and volumize the skin. 18 The free noncross-linked form attracts water and bio-stimulates dermic tissue, activating the fibroblast cell, [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] keratinocytes, 26,27 and realizing an antioxidant effect. 28 Mostly studied as a treatment for facial damage and aging, the pharmacological properties of HA can be applied to other conditions such as vulvar-vaginal atrophy.…”