2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (27): 4300-4307

Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticle hydrogel promotes wound healing in diabetic mice

Wu Haineng1, Geng Kang1, Wang Jing2, Xiong Aibing1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: At present, there is still a lack of ideal treatment methods for refractory diabetic wounds. It is of great significance to explore methods to promote diabetic wounds healing.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel on wound healing in diabetic mice.
METHODS: Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel was prepared. 100 healthy adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group (A group, n=20) and diabetic group (n=80). After model establishment, round full-thickness skin injury wounds were made in 72 mice by skin punch with a diameter of 1 cm. Seventy-two diabetic mice were randomly divided into diabetic control group (B group; physiological saline; n=18), platelet-rich fibrin + free curcumin group (C group; n=18), platelet-rich fibrin + curcumin nanoparticles group (D group; n=18), and platelet-rich fibrin + curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel group (E group; n=18). Round full-thickness skin injury wounds were made with a diameter of 1 cm in mice of A group and treated with physiological saline. The drug administration was started on the day of wound modeling, and the above-mentioned corresponding drugs were administered every other day until post-injury 12 days. On days 3, 9, and 12 after treatment, wound healing and histopathological changes of wound margin were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) On day 12 after treatment, the wounds in A, C, D, and E groups were basically healed completely, but the wounds in B group were not completely healed. The wound healing rate of E group was higher than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.05). (2) On day 3 after treatment, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the wound healing in E group was better than that in B, C, and D groups, and the inflammatory cell infiltration and granulation maturity were the closest to the A group. (3) Immunohistochemical staining showed that the mean number of Ly6G+ cells in the wound on day 3 after treatment in E group was lower than that in B and C groups (P < 0.001), and the mean number of F4/80+ cells in E group was lower than that in B, C and D groups on day 9 after treatment (P < 0.001). The number of CD31+ cells in the wound on day 12 after treatment in group E was higher than that in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01). (4) Immunofluorescence staining on day 9 after treatment showed that the number of M2-type macrophages in the wounds of E group was higher than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.01), and the number of M1-type macrophages was lower than that of B, C, and D groups (P < 0.001). (5) Masson staining on day 12 after treatment showed that there were a large number of neatly arranged, evenly distributed and dense collagen fibers in A, C, D, and E groups, among which A and E groups demonstrated more collagen and deep staining; group B presented loose collagen fibers, uneven distribution, pale color, and small quantity. (6) Platelet-rich fibrin combined with curcumin nanoparticles hydrogel can improve the inflammatory environment of diabetic wound and promote wound healing in diabetic mice.
Key words: platelet-rich fibrin, curcumin, nanoparticles, hydrogels, diabetic wound, inflammation