Efficacy of gelatin gel sheets sustaining epidermal growth factor for murine skin defects

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in wound healing. However, EGF must be applied daily due to rapid inactivation in vivo. We investigated the sustained release of EGF from gelatin gel sheets (GGSs) and the efficacy of GGSs impregnated with EGF for promoting wound healing.

GGSs impregnated with EGF were prepared by cross-linking via glutaraldehyde to gelatin solution containing EGF. The sustained release of EGF and the bioactivity of released EGF were evaluated. Then, three kinds of GGSs containing NSS (normal saline solution; NSS group), 2.5 μg of EGF (EGF-L group), or 25 μg of EGF (EGF-H group) were applied to full-thickness skin defects created on the backs of mice. The wounds covered with polyurethane film without GGS were used as a control (PUF group). The wound area, neoepithelium length, regenerated granulation tissue, and newly formed capillaries were evaluated.

EGF was sustained and released from GGS as it degraded. The bioactivity of released EGF was confirmed. EGF-L group promoted the neoepithelium length, regenerated granulation tissue, and newly formed capillaries compared with those in the PUF and NSS groups. The area of regenerated granulation tissue in the NSS group (week 1: 2.6 + 0.2 mm(2), week 2: 2.8 + 0.3 mm(2)) was larger than that in the PUF group (week 1: 0.6 + 0.1 mm(2), week 2: 1.0 + 0.1 mm(2)). The area of newly formed capillaries in the EGF-L group (9967 + 1903 μm(2)) was larger than that of the EGF-H group (3485 + 1050 μm(2)).

GGSs impregnated with EGF-L showed promising results regarding wound healing.