HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sugihara, A. Articles by Ikehara, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sugihara, A. Articles by Ikehara, S.

---

Original Article

Promotive Effects of a Silk Film on Epidermal Recovery from Full-Thickness Skin Wounds

Akira Sugihara^*,, Kikuya Sugiura^*, Haruo Morita^*, Takashi Ninagawa, Kouzou Tubouchi^§, Ryuukichi Tobe^¶, Mamoru Izumiya^#, Takeshi Horio, Nader G. Abraham^**,1 and Susumu Ikehara^*,1

^* The First Department of Pathology and
Department of Dermatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan;
Silk Kogei Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan;
^§ National Institute of Sericultural and Entomological Science, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tukuba, Japan;
^¶ Hamamatu Rosai Hospital, Hamamatu, Japan;
^# Izumiya Hospital, Kyoto, Japan; and
^** Department of Pharmacology Gene Therapy Laboratories, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York 10595

We examined the effects of the transparent fibroin film (silk film) on full-thickness skin wounds. Full-thickness dermatotomies (15 mm x 9 mm) were prepared on the dorsal wall of CRJ:CD-1 nu/nu (ICR nu/nu) mice. The area of the wounds dressed with silk film was reduced to 10% of that made by the dermatotomy 14 days after the dermatotomy and were covered with regenerated epidermis 21 days after the dermatotomy. In contrast, less recovery and epidermal regeneration were found 14 days after dermatotomy in the wounds dressed with a conventional hydrocolloid dressing (Duro Active). Furthermore, only partial incomplete epidemal growth was obtained 21 days after dermatotomy. Most importantly, the healing time of wounds dressed with silk film was 7 days shorter than those dressed with DuoActive dressing. The silk film showed an almost similar or slightly better promotive effect as the lyophilized porcine dermis (Alloask D), which is used as a dressing for burns, ulcers, and decubitis. Histologic findings revealed that there was greater collagen regeneration and less inflammation and neutrophil-lymphocyte infiltration of the wounds dressed with silk film than with DuoActive dressing. It is clear that regeneration of the epidermis and dermis of the wound beds covered with silk film was faster than with DuoActive dressing. Finally, silk film is easily obtainable, sterilizable, and transparent, and it allows easy observation of tissue recovery. Therefore, silk film offers advantages over other dressings and may be clinically useful for wound treatment.