Evaluating the effect of fucoidan-alginate combined dressing on wound healing in rats with full-thickness skin removed.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of fucoidan-alginate combined dressings on wound healing in rats with full-thickness skin defects and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male SD rats were divided into three groups (n=15): Control, 2% fucoidan, and 5% fucoidan. Full-thickness skin wounds were created on each rat. Fucoidan-alginate dressings were prepared by applying 20 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml fucoidan solutions to alginate dressings (2×2 cm), resulting in 2% and 5% (w/v) fucoidan-alginate combined dressings, respectively. The control group utilized alginate dressings. Wound healing was assessed through various methods, including wound area measurement, histopathological analysis, white blood cell counts, ELISA for TNF-α and IL-1β, Masson's trichrome staining for collagen, immunohistochemistry for TGF-β1, and western blotting for TGF-β1 and Smad-related proteins. RESULTS: The results revealed that wound healing was significantly more effective in rats treated with 5% fucoidan-alginate combined dressings. Compared to the control group (P<0.01) and the 2% FUC group (P<0.05), the 5% FUC group exhibited reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and lower levels of TNF-α and IL-1β. Moreover, in comparison to the control group, the 5% FUC group demonstrated a significant up-regulation in the mean density of TGF-β1 (P<0.01) and significantly elevated protein expression levels of Col I, α-SMA, and p-Smad2/3 (P<0.01). Additionally, a notable amount of collagen production was observed. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that fucoidan-alginate dressings promote wound healing, reduce inflammation, and enhance collagen synthesis in rats, likely via the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.