Wound healing using ionic silver dressing and nanocrystalline silver dressing in rats

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wound Healing Research
• Materials Science in Medicine

Background:

• Surgical wound healing is critical in patient recovery.
• Advanced dressings aim to optimize the healing process.
• Silver-based dressings offer antimicrobial and potential healing benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of nanocrystalline and ionic silver dressings on surgical wound healing in Wistar rats.
• To compare silver dressings against a control (distilled water) for wound contraction, inflammation, neovascularization, and fibrosis.

Main Methods:

• Surgical wounds (8 mm diameter) were created on Wistar rats.
• Groups received nanocrystalline silver (PN), ionic silver (PI), or distilled water (AD - control) dressings.
• Wound diameter was measured for contraction; H&E and Masson trichrome staining assessed inflammation, neovascularization, and fibrosis at 7, 14, and 21 days.

Main Results:

• Macroscopically, significant differences in wound contraction were observed by day 21.
• Nanocrystalline and ionic silver groups showed better wound contraction than the control group.
• Histological analysis revealed inflammation in all groups; the control group had superior outcomes at day 7. Neovascularization was significantly higher in the nanocrystalline silver group at day 7. Fibrosis showed no significant differences among groups.

Conclusions:

• Nanocrystalline and ionic silver dressings promote better wound contraction compared to distilled water.
• Histological findings indicate inflammation in all treatments, with the control group showing better results at an early stage (day 7).
• Silver dressings did not significantly alter fibrosis levels in this study.