Comparison of different wound dressings on cultured human fibroblasts and collagen lattices.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the effects on cultured human fibroblasts of a new non-adhesive wound dressing, Urgotul, with five other wound dressings. Urgotul is a hydrocolloid dressing; the comparator dressings included impregnated gauze and modern wound dressings.

METHOD

Cultures in monolayer were used to study the morphology and growth of fibroblasts. The Bell model of cultured dermis equivalents was used to investigate myofibroblast differentiation. These cultures were labelled a-SM actin and F-actin.

RESULTS

Two of the tested dressings induced cytotoxic effects. They were found to inhibit cell growth (greater than 60%) and to disturb cell shape and cytoskeletal differentiation. Urgotul and the remaining three dressings showed no effect on proliferation. However, some of them modified fibroblast morphology and affected F-actin distribution.

CONCLUSION

Depending on their nature and components, wound dressings may respect or affect fibroblast behaviour in vitro (proliferation, morphology and a-SM actin and F-actin distribution). The significance of these in vitro observed findings require further investigations.