Cutaneous wound healing following
trauma is a complex and dynamic process involving multiple overlapping events following
trauma. Two critical elements affecting skin wound healing are neovascularization and
inflammation. A nascent vessel can provide nutrition and
oxygen to a healing wound. Therefore, treatments strategies that enhance angiogenesis and inhibit
inflammation can promote skin wound healing. Previous studies have shown that the
SIKVAV peptide (
Ser-Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val) from
laminin can promote angiogenesis in vitro. This study evaluated the effects of
peptide SIKVAV-modified
chitosan hydrogels on skin wound healing. We established skin
wounds established in mice and treated them with
SIKVAV-modified
chitosan hydrogels. H&E staining showed that
peptide-modified
chitosan hydrogels accelerated the reepithelialization of
wounds compared with the negative and positive controls. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that more myofibroblasts were deposited at
wounds treated with
peptide-modified
chitosan hydrogels that at those treated with negative and positive controls. In addition,
peptide-modified
chitosan hydrogels promoted angiogenesis as well as keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, but inhibited
inflammation in skin
wounds. Taken together, these results suggest that
SIKVAV-modified
chitosan hydrogels are a promising treatment component for healing-impaired
wounds.