BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS CONTAINING PROANTOCIANIDINES TO ACCELERATE HEALING OF DIABETIC CHRONIC WOUNDS

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease that affects more than 150 million people worldwide. Brazil is among the top 10 countries with the highest incidence of DM. Independently of its etiology, DM is defined by the World Health Organization as a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia causes several complications, including impaired wound healing, which leads to chronic wounds. These represent a heavy financial burden for the public health system. We have recently demonstrated that high glucose concentrations suppress fibroblasts migration, which might contribute to the delayed wound healing (Lamers et al., under review). This effect of glucose is mostly dependent on reactive oxygen species generated by altered metabolic pathways under hyperglycemia. In the present study we intend to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of mice diabetic wounds using proantocianidines, potent antioxidants extracted from the grape seeds. As vehicles for this treatment we will use biodegradable polymers (nanofibers and microspheres), nanotechnology tools that allow better dermis penetration and sustained delivery. Wound healing dynamics, the presence of myofibroblasts, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix alterations and the expression of several metalloproteinases will be studied. According to the results, with expect to be able to test this treatment in human chronic wounds, implementing a new, effective and not expensive therapy.