Cytoprotection of human dermal fibroblasts against silver sulfadiazine using recombinant growth factors

Topical antimicrobial agents, silver sulfadiazine (SSD) and mafenide acetate (MA), have been associated with delayed wound healing. Previous in vitro studies with human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) have shown progressive cellular cytotoxicity with increasing concentrations of SSD and MA. However, preexposure of HDF to epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, or platelet-derived growth factor has resulted in cytoprotection of HDF against 0.01 and 0.03% concentrations of SSD as determined by phase-contrast microscopy (PCM), hemocytometer cell counts, and total cellular protein content. PCM, however, showed slower destruction of HDF at the 0.05% concentration of SSD. These data suggest that cells activated by growth factors either take up less SSD or are more resistant to the direct cytotoxic effects of this drug.