Synergistic Effects of Bacterial Nanocellulose and HUVEC-Conditioned Medium on Burn Wound Healing

Mohammad  Valizadeh; Rahim  Hobbenaghi; Rasoul  Shahrooz; Hassan  Malekinejad; Ali  Karimi; Hamed  Valizadeh

doi:10.18502/jabs.v16i2.20878

Mohammad Valizadeh Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Rahim Hobbenaghi Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Rasoul Shahrooz Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Hassan Malekinejad Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Ali Karimi Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Hamed Valizadeh Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jabs.v16i2.20878

Keywords: Burns; Wound; Healing; Rats; Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Background & Objective: Burn injuries are inherently challenging to manage due to extensive tissue destruction and the substantial edema that ensues. This experimental animal study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of bacterial nanocellulose (BC) dressing combined with human umbilical vein endothelial cell-conditioned medium (HUVEC-CM) on the healing process of second-degree burn wounds in rats.

Materials & Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: healthy control (no wound), negative control (untreated wounds, sham), BC dressing treatment, HUVEC-CM treatment, and combined BC plus HUVEC-CM treatment (n = 10 per group). A standardized burn wound with a diameter of 10 mm was created on the dorsal surface of each rat. The healing process was assessed macroscopically, using wound contraction percentage, and histopathologically over a 14-day period.

Results: The combination group demonstrated the smallest wound area by day 3 and exhibited significantly enhanced wound closure on days 7 and 14 (p < 0.05). On day 3, wound closure percentages were as follows: negative control (-1.8 ± 1.7%), BC group (5.6 ± 2.1%), HUVEC-CM group (4.9 ± 2.4%), and combination group (9.1 ± 6.3%). The greatest degree of wound closure was observed in the combination group on day 14 (71.3 ± 6.8%). Histological analysis revealed that the combination treatment reduced early necrosis and inflammation, promoted granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis by day 7, and resulted in complete re-epithelialization by day 14.

Conclusion: The combined application of BC and HUVEC-CM synergistically enhances burn wound healing by mitigating early tissue damage and promoting subsequent regenerative processes. This approach represents a promising bioactive strategy for advanced burn wound management.