Preparation and evaluation of dressing film of polysaccharide gel from fruit-hulls of durian on wound healing in pig skin in vivo

Abstract

The polysaccharide gel (PG) dressing film was prepared from polysaccharide gel extract from fruit-hulls of durian, propylene glycol at 15% w/w based on PG was used in film formulation as a plasticizer in PG dressing film formulation. The PG dressing film was prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation method. The physical properties of PG dressing film was evaluated. The PG dressing films were pale beige, transparent thin films. Films of 3x3 cm2 size 4.42 mg/cm2 of weight were 0.027±0.004 mm and 0.029±0.002 mm of thickness in PG dressing film and PG film without plasticizer, respectively. The mechanical properties of PG dressing films were investigated. The PG dressing film with plasticizer showed a satisfactory film in term of softness and toughness better than that of PG film without plasticizer. PG dressing films were swelled 1.5 fold in distilled water. Application of PG dressing films in full-thickness wound in skin of pigs were evaluated. Young female, cross-bred pigs, weighing 18 to 20 kgs, ranging in age from six to eight weeks were used in this study. Five to six full-thickness excisional wounds 2.45 cm in diameter were operated on the dorsal area in each pig. Wounds were randomly divided into 4 groups. Wounds in group 1 were treated with standard method by applying 1% povidone iodine (control) and wounds in group 2, 3, and 4, were treated with PG dressing film (treatment 1), 1% povidone iodine and covered with PG dressing film (treatment 2) and PG dressing gel (treatment 3), respectively. The wounds were examined for wound performance of wound healing on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 postoperative days. The results demonstrated that the wounds treated with PG dressing film or applying 1% povidone iodine and covered with PG dressing film clearly showed statistic significantly rapid wound closure and smaller wound area (p<0.05) than that of control or treatment 3 on days 12. Wounds treated with PF dressing films showed 100% complete wound closure on days 18, whereas wound treated with 1% povidone iodine and covered with PG dressing film, PG dressing gel or 1% povidone iodine (control) showed 91.67%, 90.00% and 68.75% of complete wound closure, respectively. On days 18, skin samples from each wound were histologically studied of tissue reaction. The results represented that PG dressing film treated wounds showed no remarkable lesion to mild number of subacute inflammatory cells such as PMNs and macrophages, mild chronic inflammatory cells aggregated in dermal layer, mild to moderate epidermal proliferation, the least fibroblast cells and the least tissue reaction represented by no remarkable lesion granuloma formation in dermal layer. The results indicated that PG dressing film or 1% povidone iodine covered with PG dressing film treated wounds were rapidly healed significantly, mild score of chronic inflammatory cells aggregated in dermal layer, mild fibroblasts and no remarkable lesion to mild dermal granuloma formation. The results suggest that PG dressing film can be satisfactory used for treatment of open wounds better than the conventional or traditional treatment.