Effects of PerClot® on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds in rats

PerClot (R) is a hemostatic material made of polysaccharide from modified starch and has been shown to assist in topical hemostasis. The principal goal in treating surgical and non-surgical wounds is the need for rapid closure of the lesion. This study investigated whether topical application of PerClot (R) could improve impaired wound healing in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the back of the rats. Immediately, PerClot (R) was introduced into the wound bed, while wounds receiving starch or nothing served as controls. Wound closure was monitored using well-recognized wound-healing parameters: histological examination for inflammatory cells and fibroblast infiltration, newly formed capillaries, and collagen deposition. Meanwhile, transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1) was measured by immunochemistry. Wound closure was significantly accelerated by local application of PerClot (R). Furthermore, PerClot (R)-treated wounds showed significantly increased fibroblast numbers at 5 days post-wounding, and newly formed capillaries at 7 days post-wounding, and collagen regeneration at 7 and 14 days post-wounding. The number of infiltrating fibroblasts expressing TGF-beta 1 was significantly higher than that in the controls at 7 and 14 days post-wounding. PerClot (R) can improve the wound healing and this effect might involve an increase in the activity of fibroblasts and increased release of TGF-beta 1. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.