silicon and Wounds-and-Injuries

In this review, we describe current and future potential wound healing treatments for acute and chronic wounds. The current wound healing approaches are based on autografts, allografts, and cultured epithelial autografts, and wound dressings based on biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. The Food and Drug Administration approved wound healing dressings based on several polymers including collagen, silicon, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid. The new potential therapeutic intervention for wound healing includes sustained delivery of growth factors, and siRNA delivery, targeting microRNA, and stem cell therapy. In addition, environment sensors can also potentially utilize to monitor and manage microenvironment at wound site. Sensors use optical, odor, pH, and hydration sensors to detect such characteristics as uric acid level, pH, protease level, and infection - all in the hopes of early detection of complications.

Topics: Acute Disease; Biological Dressings; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Cellular Microenvironment; Chitosan; Chronic Disease; Collagen; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; MicroRNAs; RNA, Small Interfering; Silicon; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries

Silicon is an important micronutrient associated with the development of bone and connective tissue. This article discusses the properties of silicon, its absorption in the human body and its current and potential use in wound management.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Bandages; Evidence-Based Medicine; Gels; Humans; Prospective Studies; Silicon; Skin Absorption; Skin Care; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Trace Elements; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries

We conducted this study to investigate the efficacy of the silicon gel application on the nares in prevention of nasal injury in preterm infants ventilated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). Patients (n=179) were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (n=87) had no silicon gel applied to nares, and in Group 2 (n=92), the silicon gel sheeting was used on the surface of nares during ventilation with NCPAP. Nasal injury developed in 13 (14.9%) neonates in Group 1 and 4 (4.3%) newborns in Group 2 (OR:3.43; 95% CI: 1.1-10.1; P<0.05). The incidence of columella necrosis was also significantly higher in the Group 1 (OR: 6.34; 95% CI: 0.78-51.6; P<0.05). We conclude that the silicon gel application may reduce the incidence and the severity of nasal injury in preterm infants on nasal CPAP.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Gels; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Necrosis; Nose; Prospective Studies; Silicon; Wounds and Injuries

Chronic wounds are a major socio-economic problem. Bacterial infections in such wounds are a major contributor to lack of wound healing. An early indicator of wound infection is an increase in pH of the wound fluid. Herein, we describe the development of a pH-responsive drug delivery device that can potentially be used for wound decontamination in situ and on-demand in response to an increase in the pH of the wound environment. The device is based on a porous silicon film that provides a reservoir for encapsulation of an antibiotic within the pores. Loaded porous silicon is capped with dual plasma polymer layers of poly(1,7-octadiene) and poly(acrylic acid), which provide a pH-responsive barrier for on-demand release of the antibiotic. We demonstrate that release of the antibiotic is inhibited in aqueous buffer at pH 5, whereas the drug is released in a sustainable manner at pH 8. Importantly, the released drug was bacteriostatic against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound pathogen. In the future, incorporation of the delivery device into wound dressings could potentially be utilized for non-invasive decontamination of wounds.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Delivery Systems; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Particle Size; Polymers; Porosity; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Silicon; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Wounds and Injuries

Flightless I (Flii) is elevated in human chronic wounds and is a negative regulator of wound repair. Decreasing its activity improves healing responses. Flii neutralizing antibodies (FnAbs) decrease Flii activity in vivo and hold significant promise as healing agents. However, to avoid the need for repeated application in a clinical setting and to protect the therapeutic antibody from the hostile environment of the wound, suitable delivery vehicles are required. In this study, the use of porous silicon nanoparticles (pSi NPs) is demonstrated for the controlled release of FnAb to diabetic wounds. We achieve FnAb loading regimens exceeding 250 µg antibody per mg of vehicle. FnAb-loaded pSi NPs increase keratinocyte proliferation and enhance migration in scratch wound assays. Release studies confirm the functionality of the FnAb in terms of Flii binding. Using a streptozotocin-induced model of diabetic wound healing, a significant improvement in healing is observed for mice treated with FnAb-loaded pSi NPs compared to controls, including FnAb alone. FnAb-loaded pSi NPs treated with proteases show intact and functional antibody for up to 7 d post-treatment, suggesting protection of the antibodies from proteolytic degradation in wound fluid. pSi NPs may therefore enable new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diabetic ulcers.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Carrier Proteins; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Delayed-Action Preparations; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Humans; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microfilament Proteins; Nanoparticles; Silicon; Trans-Activators; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries

Experiments on rats were performed to study the effect of I-/chlormethyl/silatrane and I-/ethoxy/silatrane as well as that of triethanolamine and /chlormethyl/triethoxysilane on the biochemical characteristics of granular-fibrous tissue. The drugs were applied to the wound in the form of liniments. Silatranes stimulated cell proliferation and raised biosynthetic activity of the cells. They also favoured collagen and non-collagenous protein accumulation and reduced the inflammatory manifestations. The silicon-containing fragment of the silatrane molecule, /chlormethyl/triethoxysilane, produced an analogous but less pronounced action. Triethanolamine containing no silicon appeared to be far less active. These data indicate that the presence of silicon in the silatrane grouping is of great importance for its effective biological function.

Topics: Animals; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Bridged-Ring Compounds; Granulation Tissue; Liniments; Organosilicon Compounds; Rats; Silicon; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries

Topics: Child; Female; Granuloma; Humans; Silicon; Skin Diseases; Surgery, Plastic; Wounds and Injuries

Topics: Animal Experimentation; Animals; Humans; Powders; Silicic Acid; Silicon; Wounds and Injuries