Abstract
Background
Topical application of collagen has been suggested to enhance wound healing; however, its long-term effect on wounds has not been studied in a rat model.
Hypothesis
Topical application of collagen type I will not facilitate incision healing or cosmesis in rats up to 28 days postwounding.
Methods
The effects of bovine collagen type I (6 mg/mL) on the rat surgical paired skin incision model were examined. Each rat served as its own control in which topical collagen was applied to one incision while normal saline (0.9%) was applied to the other incision. Rats were euthanized three (n=6), seven (n=6) and 28 (n=5) days after wounding. Tissue harvested from each time point was examined for maximal breaking strength, and for biochemical and histological analysis.
Results
There were no statistically significant differences (ie, P<0.05) in maximum wound breaking strength between the collagen- and saline-treated wounds at all time points. Histological analysis revealed a similar infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts in the wound edges of all incisions when matched with time of wounding. Western blot analysis revealed no differences in fibronectin or collagen I content in all wounds in each rat.
Conclusions
The topical application of collagen did not facilitate wound healing from three to 28 days in the rat wound model.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.