Chronic venous diseases (CVD) are conditions with a significant epidemiological and socioeconomic impact, characterized by impaired venous return that can progress to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and, in more severe stages, to venous leg ulcers (VLU). In the United States and Western countries, VLUs have a prevalence of 3% among adults and exhibit high recurrence rates (approximately 22% at three months), requiring complex treatment protocols. In this context, the search for advanced dressings capable of modulating the wound microenvironment is crucial. This thesis aims to characterize polymeric dressings produced via electrospinning, within the context of fluid management in the treatment of chronic wounds. Two electrospun dressings were produced: a placebo used as control (ED-CTRL) and the other one loaded with the B7-33 peptide (ED-B733), a synthetic analogue of human relaxin-2 with antifibrotic properties. These dressings were subjected to a comparative study with two standard commercial products widely used in the treatment of VLU: Sorbalgon® T Classic and Aquacel® Extra™. The characterization of the dressing was conducted to evaluate its suitability for biomedical applications through a series of studies performed in accordance with the criteria set forth in the BS EN 13726 guidelines, considering aspects of stability, safety, and functional performance under physiologically relevant conditions. Fluid management tests demonstrated that the electrospun dressings maintain optimal structural stability for up to 3 days, ensuring effective exudate management and the maintenance of a neutral pH. Unlike commercial dressings, which are markedly hydrophilic, the electrospun dressings exhibited a hydrophobic surface, useful for preventing maceration of the wound edges, and demonstrated high conformability, flexibility, and excellent biocompatibility, without inducing an inflammatory response. The results obtained indicate that advanced dressings loaded with B7-33 show promise for the treatment of VULs, ensuring effective antifibrotic action for up to 3 days. The combination of excellent performance under relevant conditions and the biological activity of the B7-33 peptide suggests an innovative therapeutic approach not only for optimal exudate management but also for the stabilization of fibrotic processes, laying a solid foundation for future studies.
Le malattie venose croniche (CVD) rappresentano patologie ad alto impatto epidemiologico e socio-economico, caratterizzate da un alterato ritorno venoso che può evolvere in insufficienza venosa cronica (CVI) e, negli stadi più severi, in ulcere venose degli arti inferiori (VLU). Le VLU negli Stati Uniti e nei paesi occidentali hanno una prevalenza del 3% tra gli adulti e presentano elevati tassi di recidiva (circa 22% a tre mesi), richiedendo protocolli terapeutici complessi. In questo scenario, la ricerca di medicazioni avanzate capaci di modulare il microambiente della lesione è cruciale. Il presente lavoro di tesi si propone di caratterizzare dressing polimerici ottenuti tramite elettrofilatura, nell'ambito della gestione dei fluidi nel trattamento di ferite croniche. Sono stati prodotti due dressing elettrofilati: un placebo utilizzato come controllo (ED-CTRL) e uno caricato con il peptide B7-33 (ED-B733), analogo sintetico della relaxina umana-2 con proprietà antifibrotiche. Tali dressing sono stati sottoposti a uno studio comparativo con due standard commerciali di largo impiego nel trattamento delle VLU: Sorbalgon® T Classic e Aquacel® Extra™. La caratterizzazione del dressing è stata condotta al fine di valutarne l’idoneità per applicazioni biomedicali, attraverso un insieme di studi eseguiti secondo criteri conformi alle linee guida BS EN 13726, considerando aspetti di stabilità, sicurezza e prestazioni funzionali in condizioni fisiologicamente rilevanti. I test di gestione dei fluidi hanno dimostrato che i dressing elettrofilati mantengono un’ottimale stabilità strutturale fino a 3 giorni, garantendo un'efficace gestione dell'essudato e il mantenimento di un pH neutro. A differenza delle medicazioni commerciali, marcatamente idrofile, i dressing elettrofilati hanno mostrato una superficie idrofoba, utile per prevenire la macerazione dei bordi della lesione e hanno esibito elevata conformabilità, flessibilità oltre che una ottima biocompatibilità, senza indurre una risposta infiammatoria. I risultati ottenuti indicano che i dressing caricati con B7-33 sono promettenti per il trattamento delle VLU, garantendo un’efficace azione antifibrotica fino a 3 giorni. La combinazione tra le ottime performance in condizioni rilevanti e l’attività biologica del peptide B7-33 suggeriscono un approccio terapeutico innovativo non solo per l’ottimale gestione dell’essudato, ma anche per la stabilizzazione dei processi fibrotici, ponendo basi solide per studi futuri.
Medicazioni Elettrofilate per la Gestione Avanzata dei Fluidi nel Trattamento di Ulcere Venose Croniche: Studio Comparativo con Medicazioni Commerciali
ROBINO, FRANCESCA
2025/2026
Abstract
Chronic venous diseases (CVD) are conditions with a significant epidemiological and socioeconomic impact, characterized by impaired venous return that can progress to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and, in more severe stages, to venous leg ulcers (VLU). In the United States and Western countries, VLUs have a prevalence of 3% among adults and exhibit high recurrence rates (approximately 22% at three months), requiring complex treatment protocols. In this context, the search for advanced dressings capable of modulating the wound microenvironment is crucial. This thesis aims to characterize polymeric dressings produced via electrospinning, within the context of fluid management in the treatment of chronic wounds. Two electrospun dressings were produced: a placebo used as control (ED-CTRL) and the other one loaded with the B7-33 peptide (ED-B733), a synthetic analogue of human relaxin-2 with antifibrotic properties. These dressings were subjected to a comparative study with two standard commercial products widely used in the treatment of VLU: Sorbalgon® T Classic and Aquacel® Extra™. The characterization of the dressing was conducted to evaluate its suitability for biomedical applications through a series of studies performed in accordance with the criteria set forth in the BS EN 13726 guidelines, considering aspects of stability, safety, and functional performance under physiologically relevant conditions. Fluid management tests demonstrated that the electrospun dressings maintain optimal structural stability for up to 3 days, ensuring effective exudate management and the maintenance of a neutral pH. Unlike commercial dressings, which are markedly hydrophilic, the electrospun dressings exhibited a hydrophobic surface, useful for preventing maceration of the wound edges, and demonstrated high conformability, flexibility, and excellent biocompatibility, without inducing an inflammatory response. The results obtained indicate that advanced dressings loaded with B7-33 show promise for the treatment of VULs, ensuring effective antifibrotic action for up to 3 days. The combination of excellent performance under relevant conditions and the biological activity of the B7-33 peptide suggests an innovative therapeutic approach not only for optimal exudate management but also for the stabilization of fibrotic processes, laying a solid foundation for future studies.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tesi Robino.pdf
non disponibili
Dimensione
3.09 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
3.09 MB | Adobe PDF | Richiedi una copia |
È consentito all'utente scaricare e condividere i documenti disponibili a testo pieno in UNITESI UNIPV nel rispetto della licenza Creative Commons del tipo CC BY NC ND.
Per maggiori informazioni e per verifiche sull'eventuale disponibilità del file scrivere a: [email protected].
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14239/36043