Peroxide‐based oxygen generating topical wound dressing for enhancing healing of dermal wounds

Abstract

Oxygen generating biomaterials represent a new trend in regenerative medicine that aims to generate and supply oxygen at the site of requirement, to support tissue healing and regeneration. To enhance the healing of dermal wounds, we have developed a highly portable, in situ oxygen generating wound dressings that uses sodium percarbonate (SPO) and calcium peroxide (CPO) as chemical oxygen sources. The dressing continuously generated oxygen for more than 3 days, after which it was replaced. In the in vivo testing on porcine full-thickness porcine wound model, the SPO/CPO dressing showed enhanced wound healing during the 8 week study period. Quantitative measurements of wound healing related parameters, such as wound closure, reepithelialization, epidermal thickness and collagen content of dermis showed that supplying oxygen topically using the SPO/CPO dressing significantly accelerated the wound healing. An increase in neovascularization, as determined using Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31 staining, was also observed in the presence of SPO/CPO dressing. This novel design for a wound dressing that contains oxygen generating biomaterials (SPO/CPO) for supplying topical oxygen, may find utility in treating various types of acute to chronic wounds.

Oxygen therapies and their effects on wound healing

“…Seven studies regarding oxygen dressing therapy were included . Among these, two studies tested the dressing for chronic wounds and five studies tested this therapy for acute wounds.…”

“…Five experimental studies evaluated the effect of oxygen dressings. Chandra et al tested a peroxide‐based topical wound dressing on porcine full‐thickness wounds . Significantly faster reepithelialization, wound closure and more collagen were seen in the oxygen dressing treated wounds compared to the wounds in the control group …”

Oxygen delivering biomaterials for tissue engineering

“…67,69,70 Sodium percarbonate is a solid adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide that decomposes into ions and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution. Calcium peroxide is another solid molecule that releases hydrogen peroxide when exposed to water.…”

“…Groups have explored the use of oxygen generating peroxides to generate oxygen for particular TE applications including wound healing, 67 myocardial infarction, 65 pancreatic islets and β cells, 70 and adipose transplants 73 . Though the applications are different, biomaterial designs for incorporated peroxides have been very similar between groups: embedding either peroxide salts or liquid peroxide microspheres into synthetic polymers or alginate matrices.…”

“…67 The layer of the bandage in contact with skin is made of gelatin, to absorb fluid from the wound. This fluid will seep into the second layer, containing solid calcium peroxide and sodium percarbonate within polyvinyl alcohol, which will release oxygen in an aqueous environment.…”