Peptide-modified chitosan hydrogels promote skin wound healing by enhancing wound angiogenesis and inhibiting inflammation.

Cutaneous wound healing following trauma is a complex and dynamic process involving multiple overlapping events following trauma. Two critical elements affecting skin wound healing are neovascularization and inflammation. A nascent vessel can provide nutrition and oxygen to a healing wound. Therefore, treatments strategies that enhance angiogenesis and inhibit inflammation can promote skin wound healing. Previous studies have shown that the SIKVAV peptide (Ser-Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val) from laminin can promote angiogenesis in vitro. This study evaluated the effects of peptide SIKVAV-modified chitosan hydrogels on skin wound healing. We established skin wounds established in mice and treated them with SIKVAV-modified chitosan hydrogels. H&E staining showed that peptide-modified chitosan hydrogels accelerated the reepithelialization of wounds compared with the negative and positive controls. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that more myofibroblasts were deposited at wounds treated with peptide-modified chitosan hydrogels that at those treated with negative and positive controls. In addition, peptide-modified chitosan hydrogels promoted angiogenesis as well as keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, but inhibited inflammation in skin wounds. Taken together, these results suggest that SIKVAV-modified chitosan hydrogels are a promising treatment component for healing-impaired wounds.