Effect of starch-containing glove powder on wound healing in the rat

The effect of the starch-containing powder BioSorb on wound healing was examined in an immunocompetent and a T cell-deficient animal model. Wounds were tested by tensionometry to give values of resilience, ultimate strength, toughness and extension. Starch significantly decreased the resilience (P < 0.03), ultimate strength (P < 0.004), and toughness (P < 0.006) of wounds in the immunocompetent model but was not shown to affect the healing of wounds in T cell-depleted animals. When the uncontaminated wounds of the two groups were compared, those from T cell-depleted animals were tougher (P < 0.04) and less extensile (P < 0.0002). These results suggest that starch impairs wound healing by its effect on the T cell-mediated immune system, and that this system may also be involved in regulation of the reparative process because its absence leads to tougher wounds.