Evaluating the effect of fucoidan-alginate combined dressing on wound healing in rats with full-thickness skin removed

Objective(s): This study aims to investigate the effects of fucoidan-alginate combined dressings on wound healing in rats with full-thickness skin defects and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Male SD rats were divided into three groups (n=۱۵): Control, ۲% fucoidan, and ۵% fucoidan. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on each rat. Fucoidan-alginate dressings were prepared by applying ۲۰ mg/ml and ۵۰ mg/ml fucoidan solutions to alginate dressings (۲×۲ cm), resulting in ۲% and ۵% (w/v) fucoidan-alginate combined dressings, respectively. The control group utilized alginate dressings. Wound healing was assessed through various methods, including wound area measurement, histopathological analysis, white blood cell counts, ELISA for TNF-α and IL-۱β, Masson’s trichrome staining for collagen, immunohistochemistry for TGF-β۱, and western blotting for TGF-β۱ and Smad-related proteins.Results: The results revealed that wound healing was significantly more effective in rats treated with ۵% fucoidan-alginate combined dressings. Compared to the control group (P<۰.۰۱) and the ۲% FUC group (P<۰.۰۵), the ۵% FUC group exhibited reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and lower levels of TNF-α and IL-۱β. Moreover, in comparison to the control group, the ۵% FUC group demonstrated a significant up-regulation in the mean density of TGF-β۱ (P<۰.۰۱) and significantly elevated protein expression levels of Col I, α-SMA, and p-Smad۲/۳ (P<۰.۰۱). Additionally, a notable amount of collagen production was observed.Conclusion: The findings suggested that fucoidan-alginate dressings promote wound healing, reduce inflammation, and enhance collagen synthesis in rats, likely via the TGF-β۱/Smad signaling pathway.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alginate ، Combined Dressing Fucoidan ، Natural product ، Wound healing