Angiogenic Hydrogels to Accelerate Early Wound Healing

Diabetes mellitus affects an increasing proportion of the population, and is projected to double by 2060. Comorbidities contribute to an interrupted healing process which is delayed, prolonged, and associated with increased susceptibility to infection and unresolved inflammation. This leads to chronic nonhealing wounds and potential amputation. Here, the use of a bioactive angiogenic peptide-based hydrogel, SLan, is examined to improve early wound healing in diabetic rats, and its performance is compared to clinically utilized biosynthetic peptide-based materials such as Puramatrix. Streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats underwent 8 mm biopsy wounding in their dorsum. Wounds are treated with either Low (1 w%) SLan, High (4 w%) SLan, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), Puramatrix, or K2 (an unfunctionalized nonbioactive control sequentially similar to SLan), covered with Tegaderm, and monitored on for a month; animals are sacrificed for histomorphic analyses and immunostaining. Pharmacokinetic analysis showing no trafficking of peptides from the wound into the circulation. SLan groups show similar wound contraction as control groups (Puramatrix, PBS, and K2), however, showing marked improvement in healing in earlier time points, including increased deposition of new mature blood vessels. Altogether the results suggest this material can be used to "jumpstart" the diabetic wound healing process.