Wound-healing effect of micronized sacchachitin (mSC) nanogel on corneal epithelium

Ray-Neng Chen,^1,* Lin-Wen Lee,^2,5,* Ling-Chun Chen,³ Hsiu-O Ho,³ Shiao-Chuan Lui,² Ming-Thau Sheu,^3,4 Ching-Hua Su²

¹Department of Cosmetic Science and Management, Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, ²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, ³School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, ⁴Clinical Research Center and Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, ⁵Research Center for Biomedical Devices and Prototyping Production, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Abstract: The extraction residue of the Ganoderma fruiting body, named sacchachitin, has been demonstrated to have the potential to enhance cutaneous wound healing by inducing cell proliferation. In this study, a nanogel formed from micronized sacchachitin (mSC) was investigated for the potential treatment of superficial chemical corneal burns. Reportedly, mSC has been produced successfully and its chemical properties confirmed, and physical and rheological properties characterized. An in vitro cell proliferation study has revealed that at the concentrations of 200, 300, and 400 µg/mL, mSC nanogel significantly increased Statens Seruminstitut rabbit corneal (SIRC) cell proliferation after 24 hours of incubation. In cell migration assay, migration of SIRC cell to wound closure was observed after 24 hours of incubation with the addition of 200 µg/mL mSC of nanogel. In an animal study, acceleration of corneal wound healing was probably due to the inhibition of proteolysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study substantiate the potential application of sacchachitin in the form of mSC nanogel for the treatment of superficial corneal injuries.

Keywords: corneal wound healing, sacchachitin, matrix metalloproteinase