In vivo evaluation of a novel alginate dressing

Alginate dressings are currently used in the management of epidermal and de rmal wounds, and provide a moist environment that leads to rapid granulatio n and reepilhelialization, However, a cytotoxic effect on proliferation of fibroblasts and residual material with inflammation in healing wounds have been reported recently. We have developed a new alginate dressing (AGA-100) , which does not have an inhibitory effect on proliferation of fibroblasts, The purpose of this study was to evaluate the new alginate dressing with r espect to wound healing in full- and partial-thickness pig wounds and with respect to biodegradation following implantation into rabbit muscle, Kaltos tat and Sorbsan, both well-established commercial dressings, were used as c ontrol. The closure rate of full-thickness wounds treated with AGA-100 was significantly higher on day 15 compared with that with Kaltostat and Sorbsa n, Reepithelialization rate of partial-thickness wounds treated with Sorbsa n was statistically significantly lower on day 3 than those with the other two dressings, As to dressing debris remained in the healing wound, a large amount of foreign debris tvas noted in all the full-thickness wounds treat ed with Kaltostat or Sorbsan, while only about one-third of wounds treated with AGA-100 showed a little dressing debris. AGA-100 implanted into the mu scle of rabbits was bioresorbed completely within 3 months, Therefore, dres sing residue in AGA-100-treated full-thickness wounds might be fully absorb ed in a few months. In conclusion, it is shown that our newly developed AGA -100 possesses superior properties compared with typical alginate dressings , (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.