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Review
. 2021 Sep 25:9:tkab026.
doi: 10.1093/burnst/tkab026. eCollection 2021.

Recent advances in nanotherapeutics for the treatment of burn wounds

Rong Huang  1 , Jun Hu  2 , Wei Qian  3 , Liang Chen  4 , Dinglin Zhang  1
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in nanotherapeutics for the treatment of burn wounds

Rong Huang et al. Burns Trauma. .

Abstract

Moderate or severe burns are potentially devastating injuries that can even cause death, and many of them occur every year. Infection prevention, anti-inflammation, pain management and administration of growth factors play key roles in the treatment of burn wounds. Novel therapeutic strategies under development, such as nanotherapeutics, are promising prospects for burn wound treatment. Nanotherapeutics, including metallic and polymeric nanoformulations, have been extensively developed to manage various types of burns. Both human and animal studies have demonstrated that nanotherapeutics are biocompatible and effective in this application. Herein, we provide comprehensive knowledge of and an update on the progress of various nanoformulations for the treatment of burn wounds.

Keywords: Burn wounds; Metal and metal oxide nanotherapeutics; Polymeric nanotherapeutics; Therapeutic mechanism; Wound healing.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Nanotherapeutics for treatment of burn wounds. NPs nanoparticles
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The healing mechanisms of burn wounds. TGF-α transforming growth factor alpha, FGF fibroblast growth factor, PDGF platelet-derived growth factor, VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor, IL-8 interleukin 8, TNF-α tumor necrosis factor alpha
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Ag-based nanotherapeutics for treatment of burn wound on patients with 15-40% partial thickness thermal burns. (a) Comparison of assessment of pain; (b) assessment of scar quality at 3 months [silver nanoparticle gel (SG), nanosilver foam (SF), collagen (C)]; (c–e) clinical photographic assessment in patient; (c) SG: left leg, SF: right leg, C: bilateral thighs; (d) SG: left buttock, SF: right buttock, C: back torso; (e), SG: left upper limb, C: right upper limb, SF: torso [55]. (Copyright 2018 by Elsevier Ltd)
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Nanofibres for management of burn wounds. (a) Chemical structures of peptide and characterization of peptide nanofibres at pH 7.4 by SEM. (b) Representative images of burn wounds after nanofibres treatment and quantification of wound areas treated with HM-PA peptide nanofibres. (c) Protein and mRNA levels of genes associated with angiogenesis and wound repair at the burn wound sites; qRT-PCR analyses were performed for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), while Western blot analyses were performed for VEGF and α-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). (d) Masson’s trichrome staining of wound tissues and quantitative analysis of granulation tissue, re-epithelization, crust area, wound distance and skin appendages of burn wounds. (e) Staining of blood vessels and quantification of blood vessels. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001. K-PA positively charged peptide amphiphile, E-PA negatively-charged peptide amphiphile, SEM scanning electron microscope, HM-PA nanofibres, heparin-mimetic peptide nanofibres [97]. (Copyright 2017 by Elsevier Ltd)
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) nanoparticles (NPs)-loaded nanosheets for treatment of burn wound in mice. (a) Scheme for the preparation of AgSD-loaded nanosheets. (b) Wound healing potency of AgSD-loaded nanosheets 6 days after treatment ((● no infection, ο sham, ∆ AgSD (−), ▲ AgSD (+)), (n = 6, *p < 0.05) (inset) (a and b) macroscopic images of the wound before a and after b applying the AgSD-loaded nanosheets. (c) Histological images of the wound area 3 days after injury, a no infection, b sham, c AgSD (−), and d AgSD (+). D dermis, S subcutaneous layer, A adipose tissue, H hair root, PLA poly(lactic acid), PVA, poly(vinyl alcohol) [98]. (Copyright 2015 by Elsevier Ltd)
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
EGF-loaded liposomes for treatment of burn wound in rats. (a) Graphic illustration. (b) Representative photos of full partial-thickness burn wound treated with EGF-loaded liposomes at various time points. (c) Wound closure rate of full partial-thickness burn wound at various time points. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. TRA all-trans retinoic acid, TRA DLs all-trans retinoic acid loaded deformable liposomes, EGF CDLs epidermal growth factor cationic deformable liposomes, DOTAP 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylamonium propane chloride, PC phosphatidyl choline [114]. (Copyright 2019 by Royal Society of Chemistry)
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Fe3O4@polydopamine (Fe3O4@PDA) nanoparticles (NPs)-labelled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treatment of burn wounds in rats. (a) Fe3O4@PDA NPs preparation and internalization by MSCs. (b) The viability and proliferation potential of Fe3O4@PDA NPs-labelled MSCs. (c) Effects of Fe3O4@PDA NPs on MSCs migration in vitro. (d) Effects of MSCs on burn injury and their therapeutic effects in a living rat model. FBS fetal bovine serum [117]. (Copyright 2019 by Royal Society of Chemistry)
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