Immunohistochemical Insights into Enhanced Burn Wound Healing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Gentamicin and Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/Gentamicin Hydrogels.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 2Innovation Center of the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 3Department of Surgery, Orthopedy and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 4Department of Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
- 5Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University Union-Nikola Tesla, Cara Dušana 62-64, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract
Novel poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/gentamicin (Gent) and PVA/chitosan (CHI)/Gent hydrogels have previously demonstrated improved burn wound healing in a rat model, based on clinical assessment and histological analysis. This study aims to provide immunohistochemical insight into the effects of PVA/Gent and PVA/CHI/Gent on burn wound healing by analyzing markers of macrophage presence (CD68), angiogenesis (VEGF and ESM1), proliferation (Ki-67), and apoptosis (TUNEL) on post-burn days 3, 7, 14 and 21. Both hydrogels increased macrophage presence, with PVA/CHI/Gent producing earlier effects. Angiogenesis was more pronounced in the PVA/CHI/Gent-treated group, in terms of both the number of VEGF⁺ cells and the relative density of blood vessels (ESM1), while PVA/Gent generally exceeded the control values without significant differences. On day 21, macrophage presence and angiogenesis were reduced in the treated groups, with significantly higher values in the control group. Proliferation was greater in the treated groups during the early healing phase (on days 3 and 7), whereas it was predominant in the control group during the later stages (on days 14 and 21). Conversely, apoptosis was predominant in the control group at the first three time points; however, by day 21, it was more pronounced in the treated groups, particularly in the PVA/CHI/Gent-treated group. Overall, both hydrogels showed similar temporal cellular and tissue responses, but PVA/CHI/Gent induced earlier and more sustained effects and demonstrated superior pro-angiogenic activity.
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BibTeX
@article{nikolic2026immunohistochemical,
title = {{Immunohistochemical Insights into Enhanced Burn Wound Healing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Gentamicin and Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/Gentamicin Hydrogels.}},
author = {Anja Nikolić and Ivan Milošević and Ana Janković and Bogomir Bolka Prokić and Emilija Nićković and Milena Stevanović and Marija Majstorović and Milorad Mirilović and Vesna Mišković-Stanković and Tijana Lužajić Božinovski},
journal = {Gels (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/gels12100925},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929959},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Immunohistochemical Insights into Enhanced Burn Wound Healing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Gentamicin and Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/Gentamicin Hydrogels.
AU - Anja Nikolić
AU - Ivan Milošević
AU - Ana Janković
AU - Bogomir Bolka Prokić
AU - Emilija Nićković
AU - Milena Stevanović
AU - Marija Majstorović
AU - Milorad Mirilović
AU - Vesna Mišković-Stanković
AU - Tijana Lužajić Božinovski
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/gels12100925
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929959
AB - Novel poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/gentamicin (Gent) and PVA/chitosan (CHI)/Gent hydrogels have previously demonstrated improved burn wound healing in a rat model, based on clinical assessment and histological analysis. This study aims to provide immunohistochemical insight into the effects of PVA/Gent and PVA/CHI/Gent on burn wound healing by analyzing markers of macrophage presence (CD68), angiogenesis (VEGF and ESM1), proliferation (Ki-67), and apoptosis (TUNEL) on post-burn days 3, 7, 14 and 21. Both hydrogels increased macrophage presence, with PVA/CHI/Gent producing earlier effects. Angiogenesis was more pronounced in the PVA/CHI/Gent-treated group, in terms of both the number of VEGF⁺ cells and the relative density of blood vessels (ESM1), while PVA/Gent generally exceeded the control values without significant differences. On day 21, macrophage presence and angiogenesis were reduced in the treated groups, with significantly higher values in the control group. Proliferation was greater in the treated groups during the early healing phase (on days 3 and 7), whereas it was predominant in the control group during the later stages (on days 14 and 21). Conversely, apoptosis was predominant in the control group at the first three time points; however, by day 21, it was more pronounced in the treated groups, particularly in the PVA/CHI/Gent-treated group. Overall, both hydrogels showed similar temporal cellular and tissue responses, but PVA/CHI/Gent induced earlier and more sustained effects and demonstrated superior pro-angiogenic activity.
SN - 2310-2861
ER -