Foot ulcers and wound healing are problematic for patients with diabetes. At present, many therapies are directed at accelerating wound healing, such as applying electric currents, living skin equivalents, and pharmacological manipulation of factors that modulate the wound healing process. Oxygen (O2) is a very important mediator associated with wound treatment, and its availability can limit healing rate. The effects of O2-hydrogel therapy on wound healing and regeneration were tested on diabetic mice. O2-hydrogels were prepared with the third sheet incorporated with glucose, glucose oxidase and peroxidase. Two round wounds of full-thickness were made on the dorsal side of each diabetic (db/db) mice (n=84) and the mice were divided into three groups: non-treated, water-hydrogel treated and O2-hydrogel treated. O2-hydrogel treatment resulted in accelerated wound closure and formation of granulation tissue in the wound area compared with those in water-hydrogel treated mice. These data suggest that O2-hydrogels may provide a better therapy for accelerating wound healing in patients with diabetes.

Keywords: diabetes, hydrogel, mice, oxygen (O2), wound healing