An Experimental Study on the Wound Healing Effects of Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factors According to Poloxamer Concentrations in Full-thickness Excisional Wound Models of Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the optimal poloxamer concentration in the mixed solution of recombinant human epidermal growth factor and poloxamer which can be effective in the wound healing process. Two full-thickness excisions were made on the back of the experimental animals. Recombinant human epidermal growth factors(RhEGF) containing different poloxamer concentrations were applied twice a day and the rates of wound closure were measured every day for 14 days. On the 7th and 14th postoperative day, the histological analysis for epithelization and granulation were performed using computerized imaging analysis system after Masson's trichrome stains. The healing times 50% were significantly reduced in the RhEGF containing 0, 3 and 6% poloxamer treated groups as compared with both the non treated control and vehicle control group(p < 0.05). However, there were no statistical differences in the healing times 50% in the RhEGF containing 10, 15 and 20% poloxamer treated groups as compared with both the non treated control and vehicle control group. Histological examinations revealed that epithelization and granulation were increased significantly in the RhEGF containing 0, 3 and 6% poloxamer treated groups as compared with control group and vehicle control group at the 7th day after operation(p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings suggest that RhEGF may enhance the epithelial wound healing process through stimulating cell proliferation. The concentration of 0, 3 and 6% of poloxamers can be applied to stabilize and enhance the wound healing effect of RhEGF for clinical application.