The effect of the starch-containing powder BioSorb on wound healing wa
s examined in an immunocompetent and a T cell-deficient animal model.
Wounds were tested by tensionometry to give values of resilience, ulti
mate strength, toughness and extension. Starch significantly decreased
the resilience (P < 0.03), ultimate strength (P < 0.004), and toughne
ss (P < 0.006) of wounds in the immunocompetent model but was not show
n to affect the healing of wounds in T cell-depleted animals. When the
uncontaminated wounds of the two groups were compared, those from T c
ell-depleted animals were tougher (P < 0.04) and less extensile (P < 0
.0002). These results suggest that starch impairs wound healing by its
effect on the T cell-mediated immune system, and that this system may
also be involved in regulation of the reparative process because its
absence leads to tougher wounds.