Evaluation of the effect of incorporation of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate in an in situ-forming hydrogel wound dressing based on oxidized alginate and gelatin

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has long been regarded as a second messenger and a regulator of human keratinocyte proliferation. To explore more effective wound management, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (DBcAMP), a lipophilic analog of cAMP was incorporated into an in situ-forming hydrogel wound dressing based on periodate-oxidized alginate and gelatin. In vitro release of DBcAMP from the matrix into phosphate buffered saline was slow and increased with time. Only 50–60% of the compound was released into the medium over a period of 2 days suggestive of a sustained release into the wound bed over a period of few days. The wound-healing efficacy of the DBcAMP-incorporated dressing was evaluated on experimental full-thickness wounds in a rat model. It was found that dressing promoted wound healing leading to complete re-epithelialization of wounds within 10 days, whereas control wounds took 15 days for complete re-epithelialization. Data obtained in this study showed that the presence of DBcAMP accelerated healing and re-epithelialization of full-thickness wounds.