Chitosan Nanofibrous Dressing Increased Angiogenesis and Anti-inflammatory Response in an Acute Wound Model in Rats: A Comparative Study

Authors

Yury Salkovskiy, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Mahboubeh Ghanbari, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Carlos P Jara, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Sara Cartwright, Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Pinaki Mondal, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Colman Freel, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Sayed Ahmadreza Razian, University of Nebraska at Omaha, OmahaFollow
Jason MacTaggart, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Mark A. Carlson, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-8-2025

Abstract

Purpose

Chitosan-based materials are promising for wound healing because of their antibacterial efficacy, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, though their healing mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing with chitosan nanofibrous dressings.

Methods

Thirty-nine Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups based on the type of dressings administered: (1) chitosan nanofibrous dressing + transparent film, (2) commercial scaffold + transparent film, and (3) transparent film alone (control). Full-thickness wounds (2 cm × 2 cm) were created on the dorsum, splinted, and covered with dressings. Evaluations at 7, 14, and 21 days included histological analysis, and measurements of TNF-α and iNOS levels in the wounds.

Results

On day 21, epithelialization was significantly higher in the chitosan group than in the scaffold group (87.5% vs. 42.0%, p = 0.03). TNF-α levels were lower in both treatment groups compared to the controls. In the chitosan group, the CD68+/CD163+ ratio was lower than in the scaffold group (0.28 vs. 0.62, p = 0.037), and blood vessel formation was greater than in the controls.

Conclusion

These results suggest that chitosan nanofibrous dressings enhance acute wound healing in rats by promoting re-epithelialization, neovasculogenesis, and maintaining low TNF-α levels in the later phases of healing.

Comments

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This article was published open access under the Criss Library (Lyrasis member) and Springer open access publishing agreement.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-025-03842-8

Journal Title

Annals of Biomedical Engineering

Volume

53

First Page

3415

Last Page

3434

Recommended Citation

Salkovskiy, Yury; Ghanbari, Mahboubeh; Jara, Carlos P; Cartwright, Sara; Mondal, Pinaki; Freel, Colman; Razian, Sayed Ahmadreza; MacTaggart, Jason; and Carlson, Mark A., "Chitosan Nanofibrous Dressing Increased Angiogenesis and Anti-inflammatory Response in an Acute Wound Model in Rats: A Comparative Study" (2025). Journal Articles. 415.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/biomechanicsarticles/415

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.