Bacterial cellulose/phytotherapic hydrogels as dressings for wound healing

Abstract

Healing is a complex process that involves cellular and biochemical events, and several medicines have been used to shorten healing time and avoid aesthetic damage. The development of an objective, non-invasive, and in-vivo examination method is urgently demanded towards helping the determination of the depth and degree of wound healing. This manuscript reports on a comparison of two wound dressings based on bacterial cellulose/phytoterapic (Calendula officinalis and Jacaranda caroba) hydrogel applied to rat dorsum with bacterial cellulose hydrogel and untreated wound. The hydrogels were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Fourier transformed - Infrared spectroscopy, and the results showed they are biocompatible and easy to attach, keep the site moist and do not damage the granulation tissue. According to the in vivo test, Bacterial Cellulose/Calendula officinalis hydrogel promoted a better wound healing and statistically significant differences in the tissue repair between treatments on the 3rd and 7th days (critical periods) after surgery. The results of the histological evaluation demonstrated a statistically significant difference for tissue inflammatory reaction between the treatments in the 3-day period. A statistically significant difference between the treatments in the evaluation of the quality, quantity and orientation of the collagen fibers was verified in the 7-day period. The hydrogels (especially bacterial cellulose with Calendula officinalis) yielded satisfactory results and, therefore, can contribute to the tissue repair of rat skin wounds.