Development of a novel beta-glucan supplemented hydrogel spray formulation and wound healing efficacy in a db/db diabetic mouse model.

To relieve the severe economic and social burdens and patient suffering caused by the increasing incidence of chronic wounds, more effective treatments are urgently needed. In this study, we focused on developing a novel sprayable wound dressing with the active ingredient β-1,3/1,6-glucan (βG). Since βG is already available as the active ingredient in a commercial wound healing product provided as a hydrogel in a tube (βG-Gel), the sprayable format should bring clinical benefit by being easily sprayed onto wounds; whilst retaining βG-Gel's physical stability, biological safety and wound healing efficacy.

The effect of dextrin-rhEGF on the healing of full-thickness, excisional wounds in the (db/db) diabetic mouse.

Chronic wounds, such as ulceration of the lower limb, represent a significant clinical challenge in today's ageing society. With the aim of identifying improved therapeutics, we have previously described a bioresponsive, dextrin-recombinant human epidermal growth factor conjugate (dextrin-rhEGF), that (i) protects rhEGF against proteolytic degradation by human chronic wound fluid; and (ii) mediates rhEGF release by α-amylase, capable of stimulating increased proliferation/migration in normal dermal and chronic wound fibroblasts; and keratinocytes, in vitro. The aim of this study was to extend these findings, by investigating the effects of dextrin-rhEGF on wound healing in the (db/db) diabetic mouse, a widely used in vivo model of delayed wound healing.