Promotion of diabetic wound healing by collagen scaffold with collagen‐binding vascular endothelial growth factor in a diabetic rat model

Aims: Studies show that VEGF can promote tissue regeneration in diabetic wounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new composite biomaterial, a collagen scaffold with CBD‐VEGF, for wound healing in a diabetic rat model. Materials and methods: We produced a collagen scaffold loaded with CBD‐VEGF, which allowed VEGF to bind to the collagen scaffold. The diabetic rat model was constructed by injecting streptozocin (STZ) peritoneally and removing a 2 x 2.5 cm thick slice of skin from the back of the animal. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control (BC Group, n = 24), collagen scaffold loaded with PBS (PBS Group, n = 24), collagen scaffold loaded with NAT‐VEGF (NAT‐VEGF Group, n = 24), and collagen scaffold loaded with CBD‐VEGF (CBD‐VEGF Group, n = 24). Wounds of the BC Group were covered with gauze and those of the PBS, NAT‐VEGF and CBD‐VEGF Groups were grafted by corresponding collagen scaffolds, respectively. Healing rates were calculated and compared among groups. Wound tissue was evaluated by histologic analysis. Results: The CBD‐VEGF group showed a higher wound healing rate, better vascularization and higher level of VEGF in the granulation tissue wound compared with NAT‐VEGF and PBS groups. Conclusions: The collagen scaffold with CBD‐VEGF promoted wound healing in a diabetic rat model, which could potentially provide better therapeutic options for the treatment of diabetic wounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.