Healing effect of a fibrin-based scaffold loaded with platelet lysate in full-thickness skin wounds

Abstract

Chronic skin lesions are difficult to heal due to reduced levels and activity of endogenous growth factors. The platelet lysate, obtained by repeated freeze–thawing of platelet-enriched blood samples, is an easily attainable source of a wide range of growth factors and bioactive mediators involved in tissue repair. In this study, a bio-synthetic scaffold composed of poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane material and fibrin was developed for platelet lysate delivery to chronic skin wounds. The kinetics release and the bioactivity of growth factors released from platelet lysate–loaded poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane–fibrin scaffold were investigated, respectively, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a cell proliferation test using human fibroblasts. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the platelet lysate–loaded poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane–fibrin scaffold provides a sustained release of platelet derived growth factors. The cell growth in the presence of scaffold was comparable to those observed for the platelet lysate added to culture medium in free form, showing that the scaffold preparation process did not affect biological activity of growth factors. The effect of platelet lysate–loaded poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane–fibrin scaffold on wound healing in genetically diabetic mouse (db/db) was also investigated. The application of the scaffold on full-thickness skin wounds significantly accelerated wound closure at day 15 post-surgery compared with control poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane–fibrin scaffold (without platelet lysate) or a commercially available polyurethane film dressing. Histological analysis demonstrated an increased re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition. The ability of the platelet lysate–loaded poly(ether)urethane–polydimethylsiloxane–fibrin scaffold to promote wound healing in vivo through simultaneous delivery of multiple active substances suggests its potential use for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.