Early healing events in a porcine model of contaminated wounds: effects of nanocrystalline silver on matrix metalloproteinases, cell apoptosis, and healing

A porcine model of wound healing was employed to examine the impact of nanocrystalline silver-coated dressings on specific wound healing events. Full-thickness wounds were created on the backs of pigs, contaminated with an experimental inoculum containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Fusobacterium sp., and coagulase-negative staphylococci, and covered with dressing products either containing silver or not. Nanocrystalline silver-coated dressings promoted rapid wound healing, particularly during the first several days post-injury. Healing was characterized by rapid development of well vascularized granulation tissue that supported tissue grafting 4 days post-injury, unlike control dressed wounds. The proteolytic environment of wounds treated with nanocrystalline silver was characterized by reduced levels of matrix metalloproteinases. Matrix metalloproteinases have been shown to be present in chronic ulcers at abnormally high levels, as compared with acute wounds, and may contribute to the nonhealing nature of these wounds. Cellular apoptosis occurred at a higher frequency in the nanocrystalline silver-treated wounds than in wounds dressed with other products. The results suggest that nanocrystalline silver may play a role in altering or compressing the inflammatory events in wounds and facilitating the early phases of wound healing. These benefits are associated with reduced local matrix metalloproteinase levels and enhanced cellular apoptosis.