Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (27): 4300-4307.doi: 10.12307/2022.859

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Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticle hydrogel promotes wound healing in diabetic mice

Wu Haineng1, Geng Kang1, Wang Jing2, Xiong Aibing1   

  1. 1Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, National Clinical Key Construction Specialty, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China; 2Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
  • Received:2021-10-14 Accepted:2021-12-10 Online:2022-09-28 Published:2022-03-12
  • Contact: Xiong Aibing, Master, Chief physician, Professor, Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, National Clinical Key Construction Specialty, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
  • About author:Wu Haineng, Master candidate, Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, National Clinical Key Construction Specialty, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Youth Fund Project of Southwest Medical University, No. 2020ZRQNA008 (to GK)

Abstract: BACKGROUND:  At present, there is still a lack of ideal treatment methods for refractory diabetic wounds. It is of great significance to explore methods to promote diabetic wounds healing.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel on wound healing in diabetic mice. 
METHODS: Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel was prepared. 100 healthy adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group (A group, n=20) and diabetic group (n=80). After model establishment, round full-thickness skin injury wounds were made in 72 mice by skin punch with a diameter of 1 cm. Seventy-two diabetic mice were randomly divided into diabetic control group (B group; physiological saline; n=18), platelet-rich fibrin + free curcumin group (C group; n=18), platelet-rich fibrin + curcumin nanoparticles group (D group; n=18), and platelet-rich fibrin + curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel group (E group; n=18). Round full-thickness skin injury wounds were made with a diameter of 1 cm in mice of A group and treated with physiological saline. The drug administration was started on the day of wound modeling, and the above-mentioned corresponding drugs were administered every other day until post-injury 12 days. On days 3, 9, and 12 after treatment, wound healing and histopathological changes of wound margin were observed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) On day 12 after treatment, the wounds in A, C, D, and E groups were basically healed completely, but the wounds in B group were not completely healed. The wound healing rate of E group was higher than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.05). (2) On day 3 after treatment, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the wound healing in E group was better than that in B, C, and D groups, and the inflammatory cell infiltration and granulation maturity were the closest to the A group. (3) Immunohistochemical staining showed that the mean number of Ly6G+ cells in the wound on day 3 after treatment in E group was lower than that in B and C groups (P < 0.001), and the mean number of F4/80+ cells in E group was lower than that in B, C and D groups on day 9 after treatment (P < 0.001). The number of CD31+ cells in the wound on day 12 after treatment in group E was higher than that in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01). (4) Immunofluorescence staining on day 9 after treatment showed that the number of M2-type macrophages in the wounds of E group was higher than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.01), and the number of M1-type macrophages was lower than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.001). (5) Masson staining on day 12 after treatment showed that there were a large number of neatly arranged, evenly distributed and dense collagen fibers in A, C, D, and E groups, among which A and E groups demonstrated more collagen and deep staining; group B presented loose collagen fibers, uneven distribution, pale color, and small quantity. (6) Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel can improve the inflammatory environment of diabetic wound and promote wound healing in diabetic mice.

Key words: platelet-rich fibrin, curcumin, nanoparticles, hydrogels, diabetic wound, inflammation

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