BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Dermatology

May 8, 2017 7:02 PM UTC

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest a topical hydrogel that scavenges MCP-1, CCL3, CCL4 and other inflammatory factors could help treat chronic wounds. The hydrogel consisted of star-shaped PEG (starPEG) and glycosaminoglycans containing heparins with differing N-sulfation patterns to optimize the gel for its chemokine scavenging properties and topical use. In wound fluids from patients with chronic venous leg ulcers, the hydrogel decreased levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and the inflammatory chemokines MCP-1, CCL3 and CCL4 compared with no treatment. In mice with excisional skin wounds, the topical hydrogel decreased levels of MCP-1 and IL-1β compared with no treatment. In a mouse model of diabetes with skin wounds, the topical hydrogel decreased the numbers of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and increased levels of re-epithelization and mature α-smooth muscle actin-positive granulation in the wounded tissue compared with Promogran. Next steps could include testing scavenging hydrogel in models of diabetic ulcers...