Effects of carboxymethyl-chitosan on wound healing in vivo and in vitro

Effects of carboxymethyl-chitosan with different molecular weights on wound healing were investigated in vivo and in vitro . A second degree burn model was performed in rats and the accelerative effects of carboxymethyl-chitosan on wound repair were observed. Contents of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin(IL)-6 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 in wounds were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro study evaluated the influence of carboxymethyl-chitosan on cytokines secretion of fibroblasts and macrophages. In vivo results showed that carboxymethyl-chitosan effectively accelerated the wound healing process in burned rats ( P <0.05). Levels of TGF-β1, IL-6 and MMP-1 in carboxymethyl-chitosan groups were significantly elevated, compared with control group ( P <0.05). In vitro results indicated that carboxymethyl-chitosan significantly promoted the proliferation of fibroblasts and stimulated its IL-8 and IL-10 secretion at different incubation time, but it did not affect collagen secretion of fibroblasts. Carboxymethyl-chitosan enhanced phagocytosis ability of macrophages, and increased its tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion. In conclusion, carboxymethyl-chitosan promoted wound healing by activating macrophages, accelerating fibroblasts growth and exerting considerable effects on the secretion of a series of cytokines.