Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of titanium dioxide /gelatin nanocomposite on wound healing in mice as a model study. METHODS: Fifty male rats were randomized into five groups of ten animals each. In group I, 0.1 mL sterile saline 0.9% solution was added to the wounds with no infection. In group II, the wounds were infected with MRSA and only treated with 0.1 mL the sterile saline 0.9% solution. In group III, infected wounds were treated with gelatin. In group IV, animals with infected wounds were treated with 0.1 mL titanium dioxide nanoparticles. In group V, animals with infected wounds were treated with titanium dioxide /gelatin nanocomposite. Wound size was measured on 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 20 days after surgery. RESULTS: Reduction in wound area indicated that there was significant difference between group IV and other groups (p<0.05). Quantitative histological and morphometric studies and mean rank of the qualitative studies demonstrated that there was significant difference between group IV and other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Titatnium dioxide nanoparticles/gelatin composite offered potential advantages in wound healing acceleration and fibroblast proliferation on early days of healing phases. Acceleration in wound repair could be associated with earlier wound contraction and stability of damaged area by rearrangement of granulation tissue and collagen fibers.