Loss of skin integrity and continuity as a result of injury may cause non-healing chronic wound. After injury, sequences of wound healing phases are set in motion to accomplish tissue repair. Neutrophils infiltration in inflammatory phase can protect the host from infection and secrete enzymes which cause tissue damage. Current view of wound healing modalities generally requires the materials to enhance epidermal regeneration. Normal saline wound dressings are commonly used in clinical practices. The search for the ideal wound dressing material is still continuing. Recently, biocellulose, also known as bacterial cellulose has been developed for wound dressing. Biocellulose wound dressings (BWD) have been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds due to its ability to both donate and absorb moisture. This study was an experimental animal study with control group to determine the effect of biocellulose nata de coco as a wound dressing in mice by assessing the wound diameter and the amounts of neutrophils. Fifty standardized female albino mice were divided into 3 groups based on the intervention; control group (n=20), NaCl 0.9% group (n=15), and biocellulose group (n=15). Each group was then terminated in the following days; 3rd day, 7th day, and 14th day. Punch biopsy of the back was performed to assess the changes in diameter and histopathological examination was done to assess the neutrophil count. The results indicated significantly smaller diameter and reduced mean neutrophil count in the biocellulose group. This experimental animal study demonstrated that BWD is significantly superior than normal saline dressing in promoting wound healing.
Key words: biocellulose, wound dressing, normal saline, wound healing
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