Filme à base de polissacarídeo carregado com vitamina C e própolis: um promissor dispositivo para acelerar a cicatrização de feridas diabéticas

Abstract

Wound healing can be a painful and time-consuming process in patients with diabetes mellitus. In view of this, the use of wound healing devices can help expedite this process. In the present study, cellulose films, loaded with vitamin C (VitC) and/or propolis (Prop), two natural compounds with attractive pharmacological properties, were designed. As assessed, VitC can be released in a controlled manner from films containing cellulose (Cel) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), such as Cel-PVA/VitC and Cel-PVA/VitC/Prop. Studies of in vitro antibacterial activity showed a reduction in bacterial counts (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) after treatment with the films Cel-PVA/VitC, Cel PVA/Prop and Cel-PVA/VitC/Prop. In addition, the antibacterial and healing properties of the cellulose-based films were evaluated in an animal model of diabetes induced with streptozotocin (STZ) (100 mg/kg). After the sensitization period, the animals were treated with the films for 15 days. Diabetic mice exhibited impairment of healing, while treatment with the Cel-PVA/VitC/Prop film increased the healing rate of the wound. There was a marked reduction in bacterial counts present in the wound environment of diabetic mice following treatment with Cel-PVA/VitC, Cel-PVA / Prop and Cel-PVA / VitC / Prop. Histological analysis showed that the group of untreated diabetic mice did not show adequate healing, whereas the group treated with the films Cel-PVA / VitC and Cel-PVA/VitC/Prop showed good cicatricial response. In this way, these new ecological films may represent a new therapeutic approach to accelerate the healing of diabetic wounds.