Promotion of diabetic wound healing by collagen scaffold with collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor in a diabetic rat model.

Objective: Studies show that VEGF can promote tissue regeneration in diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new composite biomaterial, a collagen scaffold with CBD-VEGF, for wound healing in a diabetic rat model.

Methods: We produced a collagen scaffold loaded with CBD-VEGF, which allowed VEGF to bind to the collagen scaffold. The diabetic rat model was constructed by injecting streptozocin (STZ) peritoneally and removing a 2 x 2.5 cm thick slice of skin from the back of the animal. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control (BC Group, n = 24), collagen scaffold loaded with PBS (PBS Group, n = 24), collagen scaffold loaded with NAT-VEGF (NAT-VEGF Group, n = 24), and collagen scaffold loaded with CBD-VEGF (CBD-VEGF Group, n = 24). Wounds of the BC Group were covered with gauze and those of the PBS, NAT-VEGF and CBD-VEGF Groups were grafted by corresponding collagen scaffolds, respectively. Healing rates were calculated and compared among groups. Wound tissue was evaluated by histologic analysis.

Results: The CBD-VEGF group showed a higher wound healing rate, better vascularization and higher level of VEGF in the granulation tissue wound compared with NAT-VEGF and PBS groups.

Conclusions: The collagen scaffold with CBD-VEGF promoted wound healing in a diabetic rat model, which could potentially provide better therapeutic options for the treatment of diabetic wounds.