Injectable Chitosan-Platelet-Rich Plasma Hybrid Biomaterial Improves Skin Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

Abstract:

Diabetic foot ulcers are chronic wounds with poor healing outcomes, partly due to protease-rich microenvironments that degrade regenerative cues. In this 28-day study, a hybrid biomaterial combining fresh leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma with freeze-dried chitosan (CS-PRP) is used to treat full-thickness skin excisional wounds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. CS-PRP coagulates rapidly and chitosan remains detectable in the wound bed up to Day 28. Compared to control, CS-PRP significantly accelerates wound closure throughout the study, including at Day 7 (52% vs. 37%, p < 0.001), with a more complete epidermal restoration. In addition, histological scoring reveals higher tissue quality in treated wounds at Day 28 (14.8±0.4 vs. 13.7±0.8, p < 0.01), with improved dermal reorganization. CS-PRP enhances collagen deposition compared to control (59% vs. 24%, p < 0.001) and maturation while sustaining higher vascular density relative to native skin in all treated animals (1.1 to 3.1-fold, p < 0.01) at Day 28. CS-PRP supports diabetic wound healing across multiple tissue compartments. Indentation-based mapping generates detailed spatial profiles of skin thickness and elasticity, which clearly highlight wound-induced mechanical disruption but reveal no significant treatment-related improvement. The simplicity, injectability, and biological activity of CS-PRP position this product as a promising approach to enhance wound healing in diabetic skin.

Chitosan, diabetes, mechanical testing, platelet-rich-plasma, rat model, skin & wound healing.