Abstract
Aim. Metal nanoparticles may be promising agents for pre-hospital care for burn injury, which is a highly relevant medical–tactical and clinical issue in Ukraine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CNP) on burn wound healing and manifestations of burn disease in rats with thermal skin injury.
Methods. In 3-month-old male Wistar rats, thermal skin injury of 2.5 cm² was induced. The effects of a CNP gel (“Cerera”, Ukraine) on burn wound healing dynamics and the course of burn disease were evaluated. Wound healing, oxygen tension in the perifocal zone, pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange parameters, histological changes in the lungs and circulating acute-phase proteins were assessed throughout the study period. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA followed by Šidák’s post hoc test.
Results. During the first two days post-injury, a hypometabolic phase was observed, accompanied by diminished burn perifocal tissue oxygen tension, and reduced pulmonary ventilation parameters. Then, tissue oxygen tension increased from day 3 to day 9, indicating the onset of the hypermetabolic phase and activation of reparative regeneration. At this time, acute-phase protein concentrations rose significantly by day 3 and remained elevated compared with pre-burn values. The most pronounced structural changes in lung tissue were detected on day 9 after the burn. Treatment with CNP attenuated the hypometabolic phase and induced early signs of hypermetabolism from day 1, including increased oxygen consumption in the perifocal burn area, improved ventilatory efficiency and gas exchange, and a reduced systemic inflammatory effect manifested by C-reactive protein levels. Acceleration of the hypermetabolic phase positively influenced burn wound healing and lung morphofunctional status.
Discussion. The beneficial effects of CNP observed in this study are consistent with reports on other metal nanoparticles; however, CNP demonstrate more advantageous effects on wound healing and attenuation of lung injury [see Zhang K, et al., 2020].
Conclusions. CNP exert protective effects on burn wound healing and burn disease manifestations. These effects are mediated by favourable changes in energy metabolism at the site of injury, secondary limitation of the systemic inflammatory response, and mitigation of target-organ damage in the acute post-injury period. The identified protective properties of cerium dioxide nanoparticles in burn injury highlight the potential for their use in pre-hospital management to enhance burn wound healing and reduce pulmonary manifestations of burn disease.