Effects of carbomer 940 hydrogel on burn wounds: an in vitro and in vivo study

This study was designed to investigate the applicability of carbomer 940 hydrogel on skin-burn wounds by focusing on its effects on the zone of stasis.

Fibroblast cells were used to assess the cytotoxicity of carbomer 940. Wound healing was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry and histopathological analysis. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (N = 10 each). After shaving their dorsum, a 'burn comb' was contacted bilaterally on each side of the spine. Carbomer 940 hydrogel and TegaDerm were used as topical dressing, in the experimental group, while normal saline and TegaDerm were used as the control. The dressing was changed daily and the blood flow was measured until the animals were euthanized. The wound samples were collected at days 3 and 21 for histopathological studies. Cell viability study showed that the hydrogel was non-cytotoxic.

Our results revealed that skin blood perfusion in the zone of stasis was elevated at 24 hour post-burning, in the experimental group but not in the control group (p < .05) and this trend continued until the animals were euthanized. Histopathologically, there was statistically more epithelial tissue in the zone of stasis in the experimental group than in the control group, and the sebaceous glands and hair follicles remained viable in the group treated by hydrogel on day 3. There was significantly more collagen deposition and fibroplasia in the ischemic zones of the experimental group than in the control group at day 21.

Our study has shown that carbomer 940 hydrogel is a nontoxic biomaterial, which improved tissue perfusion and decreased the area of necrotic tissue in burn wounds. Application of this biomaterial in treatment of burn injuries deserves further studies.