Honey hydrogel dressing to treat burn wound in rats - a preliminary report

Various studies have shown that honey is effective in healing burns and wounds. In this study, Malaysian honey was incorporated into hydrogel dressing formulation using electron beam irradiation technique and introduced as Honey Hydrogel dressing. The wound healing efficacy of Honey Hydrogel dressing on deep partial thickness burns was monitored on the basis of gross appearances, rate of wound contraction and histopathological changes. Deep partial thickness burns were created by applying an aluminium template preheated to 85°C to the backs of rats for 5 s and randomly treated with Honey Hydrogel or hydrogel while control group received no treatment. Wound appearance was photographed and the rate of wound contraction was calculated at 7, 14, and 21 days post burn. Rats were euthanized after 21 days of treatment and skin samples were taken for histopathological examination. The wounds treated with Honey Hydrogel dressing showed better gross appearances and significantly (p<0.05) enhanced the rate of wound contraction as compared to the control group at 21 days post burn. Faster epithelialization was also seen in the Honey Hydrogel treated group as compared to the other groups, although this was not statistically significant. The results substantiate the potential efficacy of Honey Hydrogel in accelerating burn wound healing

Evaluation of rat soft tissue response to implantation of glycerolized bovine tunica vaginalis

The aim of this study was to evaluate glycerolized bovine parietal tunica vaginalis implant in rat model. Pieces of 3_2.5 cm bovine parietal tunica vaginalis preserved in 99.5% glycerol and stored at 4 degrees C were used to repair 3_2.5 cm full thickness abdominal wall defects created in a group of 30 male Sprague Dawley rats (300-400 g). Another group of 30 rats were underwent sham operation and used for comparison. Each group was divided into five subgroups (n=6) and sacrificed at post-surgical intervals of 1, 3, 6, 9 and 18 weeks for macroscopical, histological and mechanical evaluation. Loose adhesions were observed between the implanted graft and underlying visceral organs in 6.6% of the treated group. Histologically the graft was biocompatible and gradually replaced by the recipient fibers tissue. The graft healing tensile strength increased with time in both groups and no significant different (P>0.05) was observed between the overall means of healing tensile strength of the two groups. The outcome of this study revealed that glycerolized bovine tunica vaginalis is biocompatible surgical patch that can be used for reconstruction of soft tissue defects. However, further investigation is required regarding the glycerol preservation efficiency

Effect of freeze-drying and gamma irradiation on biomechanical properties of bovine pericardium

Freeze-drying and gamma irradiation are the techniques widely use in tissue banking for preservation and sterilization of tissue grafts respectively. However, the effect of these techniques on biomechanical properties of bovine pericardium is poorly known. A total of 300 strips of bovine pericardium each measured 4 cm × 1 cm were used in this study to evaluate the effect of freeze-drying on biomechanical properties of fresh bovine pericardium and the effect of gamma irradiation on biomechanical properties of freeze-dried bovine pericardium. The strips were divided into three equal groups, which consist of 100 strips each group. The three groups were fresh bovine pericardium, freeze-dried bovine pericardium and irradiated freeze-dried bovine pericardium. The biomechanical properties of the pericardial strips were measured by a computer controlled instron tensiometer while the strips thickness was measured by Mitutoyo thickness gauge. The results of the study revealed that freeze-drying has no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the tensile strength, Young’s modulus (stiffness) and elongation rate of fresh bovine pericardium. Irradiation with 25 kGy gamma rays caused significant decreased in the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation rate of the freeze-dried pericardium. However, gamma irradiation has no significant effect on the thickness of freeze-dried bovine pericardium, while freeze-drying caused significant decreased in the thickness of the fresh bovine pericardium. The outcome of this study demonstrated that freeze-drying has no significant effect on the biomechanical properties of fresh bovine pericardium, and gamma irradiation caused significant effect on the biomechanical properties of freeze-dried bovine pericardium

Gross, radiology and ultrasonographic evaluation of coral post-implantation in sheep femur

This study was carried out to macroscopically evaluate the ability of coral to repair a large size bone defect. A total 12 adult, male sheep were divided into 4 groups. The large bone defect (2.5 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm) was created surgically on the left proximal femur and replaced by a block of coral (Porites sp.). Radiographs were obtained immediately after surgery and at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postimplantation. Ultrasonographic examinations were carried out every 2 weeks after implantation up to 12 weeks using ultrasound machine (TOSHIBA Capasee II) connected with a 7-MHz frequency transducer. The sheep were euthanized at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postimplantation and the bone was examined grossly. Both ultrasonographs and radiographs taken at 8 and 12 weeks showed that the implants had resorbed and left a space that was much reduced in size. There was no sign of implant rejection observed in all animals. The results showed that processed coral had potential to become bone substitute for reconstructive bone surgery

Microscopic evaluation of the natural coral (Porites spp.) post-implantation in sheep femur

This study was carried out to microscopically evaluate the natural coral (Porites spp.) implanted in sheep femur. 12 adult, male sheep were divided into 4 groups. The defect area was implanted with coral and monitored for up to 12 weeks. The sheep were euthanized at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postimplantation. Microscopically, natural coral implanted into bone tissue showed gradual resorption and progressive replacement by new bone. At 12 weeks postimplantation, the implanted site was almost completely surrounded by mature bone. The results showed that natural coral was a biodegradable and osteoconductive biomaterial, which acted as a scaffold for a direct osteoblastic apposition