BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF WOUND MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS - A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS POLYSACCHARIDES ON MURINE L929 FIBROBLAST PROLIFERATION AND MACROPHAGE RESPIRATORY BURST

An in-vitro screening method to examine the biocompatibility of materials used in wound management has been evaluated. This involved the use of a macrophage respiratory-burst assay and a fibroblast proliferation assay to represent respectively the inflammatory and the granulation phases in wound healing. Standard polysaccharides (calcium and sodium alginates, l-carrageenan, chitin, chitosan lactate, chondroitin sulphate and pectic acid) were used as test compounds. None of the polysaccharide samples caused a significant increase in L929 fibroblast cell numbers relative to control after 6 days incubation. The overall effect of exposure of the fibroblast cultures to the alginates, carrageenan and chondroitin sulphate was an extension of lag phase followed by an enhanced rate of cell proliferation in the logarithmic phase. Only calcium and sodium alginates and chondroitin sulphate enhanced the respiratory burst activity of murine macrophages; l-carrageenan and chitosan lactate were markedly inhibitory. The results suggest that a macrophage activity assay should be included as part of an in-vitro screening program to evaluate the biocompatibility of wound management materials and to detect intrinsic biological activity.