Comparative Evaluation of Polymers Versus Traditional Approaches for Local Treatment of Burn Wounds in an Experimental Rat Model

Abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to morphologically analyze and compare the wound healing process of burns in an animal model using Levomekol ointment or a polymer coating. The polymer coating was made from carboxymethyl cellulose, which contained stabilized silver nanoparticles at various concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For our analyses, we used 75 White rats, which were divided into 5 groups, to compare local treatment with Levomekol ointment versus polymer coating containing various concentrations of silver nanoparticles. Biopsy specimens from the central and peripheral sections of treated burn wounds were studied on days 7, 15, and 30 after injury/start of treatment. RESULTS: In rat groups that had local treatment of burn wounds with Levomekol ointment, the period of wound epithelialization was 37.2 ± 0.7 days. In rat groups that had treatment with polymer coating with silver nanoparticles, the epithelialization period was 30.2 ± 0.6 days. The use of a polymer coating with silver nanoparticles in local treatment stimulated the onset of regenerative processes at an earlier date, which was expressed in the active formation of granulation tissue by day 15. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional method of burn wound treatment, which in our study was the use of Levomekol ointment, demonstrated a more protracted course of the wound healing process versus treatment with polymer coating with silver nanoparticles in our study animals. As shown morphologically, the use of the polymer coating treatment made it possible to shorten the recovery process.