Evaluation of electrospun (1,3)-(1,6)-β-D-glucans/biodegradable polymer as artificial skin for full-thickness wound healing.

(1,3)-(1,6)-β-D-glucan (BG), a natural product of glucose polymers, has immune stimulatory activity that is especially effective in wound healing. In this study, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) membranes containing BGs (BG/PLGA membranes) were investigated for their wound-healing effects. The growth rate of human dermal fibroblasts was enhanced in BG/PLGA membranes. Their growth rates were improved with the increase of BG concentration in the membranes. The PLGA membranes with and without BGs were treated in full-thickness skin wound using male BALB/c nude mice (n=6 for each group). According to the animal study, BG/PLGA membranes enhanced the interaction with the surrounding cells in wound sites. In the wound site treated BG/PLGA, the positive of the Ki-67 (a proliferation cell marker) and the CD 31 (an endothelial cell marker) were 77.2%±5.6% and 34±8.6 capillaries. In the wound site treated PLGA, the Ki-67 positive cells were 51.3%±7.0%, and the positive-stained capillaries of CD 31 were 22.7±8.6. The wound site treated with BG/PLGA membranes was stronger stained of them in the wound site than those of the wound sites treated with PLGA membranes. BG/PLGA membranes accelerated wound healing by improving the interaction, proliferation of cells, and angiogenesis. BG/PLGA membranes can be useful as a skin substitute for enhancing wound healing.