Cellulose in different forms has extensively been applied in biomedical treatments, including scaffolding, tissue engineering and tissue formation. To evaluate the therapeutic effects of a liquid bandage (LB) prepared with cellulose powders from Styela clava tunics (SCT) and Broussonetia kazinoki bark (BSLB) for healing cutaneous wounds, the remedial effects of a low concentration (LoBSLB) and a high concentration (HiBSLB) of BSLB on skin regeneration and toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Results indicated that the total area of skin involved in the surgical wound was lower in the BSLB‑treated group compared with the Vehicle‑treated group at days 4‑12, although some variations were observed in the HiBSLB‑treated group. In addition, the BSLB‑treated group showed significantly enhanced width of the re‑epithelialization region and epidermal thickness when compared with the Vehicle‑treated group. Furthermore, significant stimulation in the expression level of collagen‑1 and the signaling pathway of VEGF after topical application of BSLB was indicated. No liver or kidney toxicities were detected for either doses of BSLB. Overall, the results of the present study suggest that BSLB accelerates the process of wound healing in surgical skin wounds of Sprague Dawley rats through stimulation of re‑epithelialization and connective tissue formation, without any accompanying significant toxicity.
Keywords: Styela clava tunics; Broussonetia kazinoki bark; cellulose; surgical wound; toxicity.