Effect of dual-drug-releasing micelle-hydrogel composite on wound healing in vivo in full-thickness excision wound rat model

Wound healing is a complex process involving an intricate cascade of body responses. A composite dressing that would effectively target different stages of wound healing and regeneration is urgently needed. In the current study, we tested the efficacy of a previously prepared micelle-hydrogel composite loaded with two drugs, in full-thickness excision wound model in rat. We found that the composite elicited almost no inflammation and effectively enhanced healing at all stages of the healing process. An initial burst of the first drug, amphotericin B, eliminated any preliminary infection. This burst was followed by a gradual release of curcumin as the healing and anti-inflammatory agent. Better healing was observed in rats treated with the drug-loaded composites than in blank and control groups. Wounds showed up to 80% closure in the treated group, with high collagen deposition. Re-epithelialization and granulation were also better in the treated group than in the non-treated control and blank groups. Histopathological examination revealed that drug-loaded composites improved cutaneous wound healing and regeneration. In conclusion, the micelle-hydrogel composite is an effective dressing and might have major applications in wound healing. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1094-1106, 2019.