Quercetin incorporated collagen matrices for dermal wound healing processes in rat

We have been developing antioxidants incorporated collagen matrix as a novel biomaterial for various biomedical applications. In this study we made use of quercetin incorporated collagenous matrix for dermal wound healing in rat. Quercetin incorporated collagen (QIC) treated groups were compared with control and collagen (CS) treated animals. QIC treated animal showed a better healing when compared to control and CS treated wound. The biochemical parameters like hydroxyproline, protein, uronic acid content in the healing wound, revealed that there is an increase in proliferation of cells in quercetin treated groups when compared to CS group and there is considerable increase in wound contraction when compared to CS treated group. In addition we adapted the antioxidant assay using 2,2'-azobisisobutryonitrile (AIBN) to assess in vitro antioxidant activity of QIC. The antioxidant studies indicate QIC quench the radicals more efficiently. These results suggested that quercetin incorporated collagen matrix could be a novel dressing material for dermal wound healing. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.