Biomolecular characterization by FTIR microspectroscopy in the modeling phase of wound cicatrization in a murine model of excisional injury

Abstract

The skin cicatrization is a complex and organized process that involves three phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. It is essential to analyze this process biomolecularly, in order to investigate and propose new therapeutic strategies that improve the healing or promote regeneration. The objective of this project was to analyze histological and biomolecularly through Fourier Transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) and its biochemical mapping function, samples of an excisional skin wound, comparing the morphological and spectroscopic changes between healthy skin and scarred skin. An excisional skin wound healing model was standardized using female, NIH strain 8-week-old mice (n = 16), provoking an excisional wound of 1 cm2. Healthy skin (day 0) and scarring skin (day 15 post-injury) were morphometrical, histological, and biomolecularly analyzed by digital picture analysis, histological technique, and FTIRM with its mapping function. The morphometric analysis showed a reduction of the wound area of 87.6% at day 15 after wound. Histologically, in the scarred skin a thinning of the epidermis was evidenced, besides reduced cellularity in the dermis, granulation tissue formation, and disorganized collagen fibers were observed. Spectroscopically, changes between the study groups were appreciated, mainly in the lipid bands and in the protein region. The calculation of the areas under the curve and the biochemical mapping showed a lower concentration of keratin and collagen in the scarred skin, as well as collagen fibers disorganization. The ability of the FTIRM to accurately characterize biomolecular changes in cicatrization process was demonstrated, such as the amount of keratin, collagen, and the deposition and ordering of the collagen fibers associated with their maturation.