Chitosan application to X-ray irradiated wound in dogs.

Radiation-impaired wounds are characterized by fibroblast and endothelial cell injury, resulting in delayed wound healing. Several previous studies have indicated that chitosan accelerates wound healing by up-regulating growth factor synthesis. In this study, the topical application of chitosan onto radiation-impaired wounds was investigated. An X-ray irradiated (25Gy) skin wound was treated with cotton fibre-type chitosan in dogs. Histopathologically, neovascularization was significantly accelerated in irradiated wounds in the chitosan application group (rad-chi group) when compared with irradiated wounds in the control group (rad-cont group). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in granulation tissue was positive in the rad-chi group, but was negative in the rad-cont group. The present results confirmed advanced granulation and capillary formation in wounds treated with chitosan, even after irradiation.