Effects of PerClot® on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds in rats

PerClot® is a hemostatic material made of polysaccharide from modified starch and has been shown to assist in topical hemostasis. The principal goal in treating surgical and non-surgical wounds is the need for rapid closure of the lesion. This study investigated whether topical application of PerClot® could improve impaired wound healing in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on the back of the rats. Immediately, PerClot® was introduced into the wound bed, while wounds receiving starch or nothing served as controls. Wound closure was monitored using well-recognized wound-healing parameters: histological examination for inflammatory cells and fibroblast infiltration, newly formed capillaries, and collagen deposition. Meanwhile, transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) was measured by immunochemistry. Wound closure was significantly accelerated by local application of PerClot®. Furthermore, PerClot®-treated wounds showed significantly increased fibroblast numbers at 5 days post-wounding, and newly formed capillaries at 7 days post-wounding, and collagen regeneration at 7 and 14 days post-wounding. The number of infiltrating fibroblasts expressing TGF-β1 was significantly higher than that in the controls at 7 and 14 days post-wounding. PerClot® can improve the wound healing and this effect might involve an increase in the activity of fibroblasts and increased release of TGF-β1.