SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR CUTANEOUS WOUND HEALING POTENTIAL

Abstract

The remarkable financial burden and social impact due to impaired wound healing are forcing the research towards the development of newer drugs or formulations to accelerate the healing. In the present study, the effects of topical application of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were evaluated in cutaneous wound healing in rats. One square-shaped open excision wound (approximately 400 mm2 ) was created on the back of fifteen rats and rats were equally divided into three groups viz. Group I, II, and III. Ointment base, bulk CuO (0.3%), and CuO nanoparticles (0.3%) were topically applied on wounds of rats of group I, II, and III, respectively for 15 days. The CuO nanoparticles treated group showed significantly smaller wound area and increased percent wound contraction on day 5, 10, and 15 post-wounding in comparison to the control group. Histopathologically, wounds treated with CuO nanoparticles have decreased fibroblast number, decreased number of capillaries, and compact collagen arranged in a well-organized manner and orientation. The regeneration of the epithelial layer covering more areas of healing tissue was only evident in the CuO nanoparticles treated group. The overall wound maturity score was more evident in the CuO nanoparticles treated group as compared to other groups. In conclusion, topical application of CuO nanoparticles (0.3%) has pronounced healing potential than its bulk form and its applications may be extended to complicated wounds.

Keywords

• cuo nanoparticles
• wound healing
• collagen
• epithelial layer
• rats