Biomechanics of Wound Healing in an Equine Limb Model: Effect of Location and Treatment with a Peptide-Modified Collagen-Chitosan Hydrogel.
Abstract: The equine distal limb wound healing model, characterized by delayed re-epithelialization and a fibroproliferative response to wounding similar to that observed in humans, is a valuable tool for the study of biomaterials poised for translation into both the veterinary and human medical markets. In the current study, we developed a novel method of biaxial biomechanical testing to assess the functional outcomes of healed wounds in a modified equine model and discovered significant functional and structural differences in both unwounded and injured skin at different locations on the distal limb that must be considered when using this model in future work. Namely, the medial skin was thicker and displayed earlier collagen engagement, medial wounds experienced a greater proportion of wound contraction during closure, and proximal wounds produced significantly more exuberant granulation tissue. Using this new knowledge of the equine model of aberrant wound healing, we then investigated the effect of a peptide-modified collagen-chitosan hydrogel on wound healing. Here, we found that a single treatment with the QHREDGS (glutamine-histidine-arginine-glutamic acid-aspartic acid-glycine-serine) peptide-modified hydrogel (Q-peptide hydrogel) resulted in a higher rate of wound closure and was able to modulate the biomechanical function toward a more compliant healed tissue without observable negative effects. Thus, we conclude that the use of a Q-peptide hydrogel provides a safe and effective means of improving the rate and quality of wound healing in a large animal model.
Publication Date: 2020-12-20 PubMed ID: 33342210DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01431Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research involves the biomechanical study of wound healing in an equine limb. It highlights the use of a novel method to monitor the healing process and notable differences in injuries at varying locations. The study also examines the impact of a peptide-modified collagen-chitosan hydrogel on wound healing in horses, concluding it enhances the rate and quality of healing without side effects.
Research Methods and Findings
- The research employed a novel approach to assess functional outcomes of healed wounds in a modified equine model. The technique utilized biaxial biomechanical testing and it unearthed significant functional and structural differences in both unwounded and injured skin at differing locations on a horse’s distal limb. This observation has implications for future use of this model.
- Notably, the medial skin (inner side of a leg) was observed to be thicker, had earlier collagen engagement, and witnessed larger proportions of wound contraction during closure. The wounds proximal (closer to the trunk of the body) position tended to produce more granulation tissue.
Role of Peptide-Modified Hydrogel
- With the new understanding of the equine model of aberrant wound healing, the researchers then examined the impact of a peptide-modified collagen chitosan hydrogel on the healing process.
- They found that a singular treatment with a QHREDGS peptide-modified hydrogel (named Q-peptide hydrogel) led to a faster wound closure rate. The type of modified hydrogel contains glutamine, histidine, arginine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, and serine.
- The Q-peptide hydrogel seemed to modulate the biomechanical function towards a more compliant healed tissue. No observable negative effects were reported from its application, suggesting the hydrogel’s safety.
Research Conclusion
- From the study, it’s concluded that the Q-peptide hydrogel provides a safe and effective way of improving the rate and quality of wound healing in a large animal model, specifically the equine.
- The findings not only hold relevance for veterinary science but might also provide valuable insights for human medicine, particularly for patients who struggle with protracted or complicated wound healing situations.
Cite This Article
APA
Sparks HD, Sigaeva T, Tarraf S, Mandla S, Pope H, Hee O, Di Martino ES, Biernaskie J, Radisic M, Scott WM.
(2020).
Biomechanics of Wound Healing in an Equine Limb Model: Effect of Location and Treatment with a Peptide-Modified Collagen-Chitosan Hydrogel.
ACS Biomater Sci Eng, 7(1), 265-278.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01431 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
- Department of Civil Engineering and Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S3G9, Canada.
- Toronto General Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S3G9, Canada.
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Department of Civil Engineering and Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S3G9, Canada.
- Toronto General Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S3G9, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S3G9, Canada.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Chitosan
- Collagen
- Horses
- Humans
- Hydrogels
- Peptides
- Wound Healing
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