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Acceleration of Wound Healing in Healing‐Impaired db/db Mice with a Photoclosslinkable Chitosan Hydrogel Containing Fibroblast Growth Factor‐2

Aim: The purpose of the present study has been to assess possibilities of the FGF‐2 incorporated chitosan hydrogel as a dressing for wound occlusion and healing acceleration in healing‐impaired db/db mice. Methods: Mutant diabetic mice, C57BL/KsJ db/db, and their normal littermates (db/+) were used in this study. After full thickness‐round wound (about 100 mm2) were prepared on the back of each mouse, the FGF‐2 containing chitosan hydrogel was added onto the wound of each mouse and was irradiated with UV light. Similar full thickness‐round wound were also prepared as controls without any trearment. The changes in wound area of mice were measured. The skin including the wound was removed from each mouse for histological examination. Results: For the db/db mice treated with the FGF‐2‐incorporated chitosan hydrogel, healing was faster than only chitosan hydrogel‐treated and control wounds. On the other hand, the incorporated FGF‐2 in the chitosan hydrogel did not show a stimulatory effect on the wound healing of db/+ mice. The vascularity of wound areas of db/db mice on day 4, evaluated immunohistochemically with anti‐murine CD34, was markedly increased in FGF‐2‐incorporated chitosan hydrogel‐treated wound. Conclusion: FGF‐2‐incorporated chitosan hydrogel may become accepted as an occlisuve dressing for healing impaired wound managemant.