Effects of a Self-Assembling Peptide on Second Degree Burn Progression and Healing in a Porcine Model

A number of tissue sealants are available as adjunctive measures to improve hemostasis and healing of surgical wounds.1,2  A self-assembling peptide hemostat  (SAPH*) is in development to control bleeding during surgical procedures while not interfering with normal wound healing.3  The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the effect of SAPH on second-degree burn progression and wound healing in a porcine model.4, 5

This model was selected due to the similarities between pig and human skin.6  Thirty-two (32) second-degree burn wounds were created.  Sixteen (16) wounds were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: A) SAPH or B) Saline.  All wounds were covered with polyurethane film dressing (PFD)^ and four wounds from each treatment group were assessed on days 2, 3, 5 and 7.  A trained dermatopathologist blindly assessed biopsies for burn progression, healing and bacterial load.

The depth of inflammation (measured and graded) in SAPH treated wounds was less than that in Saline control burns.  On day 2, tissue necrosis in SAPH treated burns appeared to have been reduced when compared to Saline control.  On Day 5, the percentage of re-epithelialization was higher in the group of burns that had been treated with SAPH when compared to the group treated with Saline.  On days 5 and 7, the total bacterial count in the SAPH treated wounds was lower than that in the Saline treated group.

These results highlight the potential for SAPH to reduce burn progression and enhance healing.  Additional studies are needed to substantiate these findings.

Trademarked Items (if applicable): *Arch Therapeutics, Inc. Framingham, Massachusetts.
^3M, St. Paul, Minnesota.

References (if applicable): 1. Chiara O, Cimbanassi S, Bellanova G, et al. A systematic review on the use of topical hemostats in trauma and emergency surgery. BMC Surg. 2018 Aug 29;18(1):68.
2. Peng HT, Shek PN. Novel wound sealants: Biomaterials and applications. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2010;7:639–659.
3. Rahmani, G., et al., First Safety and Performance Evaluation of T45K, a Self-Assembling Peptide Barrier Hemostatic Device, After Skin Lesion Excision. Dermatologic Surgery, 2018. 44(7): p. 939.
4. Li J, Zhang YP, ZareiM, Zhu L, Sierra JO, Mertz PM, Davis SC. A topical aqueous oxygen emulsion stimulates granulations tissue formation in porcine second-degree burn wounds. Burns 2014 doi:10.1016/j.burns.201411.016.
5. Davis SC and Mertz PM: Treatment of Wounds with an Oak Bark Formulation: Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Assessments. Ostomy Wound Management 2008 Oct;54(10):16-25.
6. Sullivan TP, Eaglstein WH, Davis SC, Mertz P. The pig as a model for human wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2001 Mar-Apr; 9(2):66-76.