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.