Development of a novel in situ gelling skin dressing: Deliveringhigh levels of dissolved oxygen at pH 5.5

• Background and aims: Wound healing requires appropriate oxygen and pH levels.Oxygen therapy and pH‐modulating treatments have shown positive effects onwound healing. Thus, a dressing, which combines high levels of dissolved oxygen(DO) with the pH of intact skin, may improve wound healing. Our aims were to (1) formulatean in situ gelling dressing with high levels of DO and with the pH level of intactskin, (2) evaluate physical and chemical properties of the dressing, and (3) elucidatebasic effects of elevated levels of DO on human skin cells in vitro.Methods: A dressing was formulated with 15 to 16 wt% poloxamer 407, acetatebuffer, and oxygenated water. Stability of pH and DO, rheology, and shelf life wereanalysed. Furthermore, in vitro studies of the effect of increased levels of DO wereperformed.Results: An in situ gelling wound dressing, with a DO concentration rangingbetween 25 and 35 mg/L and a pH of 5.5, was formulated. The DO concentrationwas stable above 22 mg/L for at least 30 hours when applied on a surface at 35°Cand covered for directed diffusion into the intended wound area. At storage, thedressing had stable pH for 3 months and stable DO concentration over 30 mg/L for7 weeks. Increasing DO significantly enhanced intracellular ATP in human skin cells,without changing reactive oxygen species production, proliferation rate, or viability.Conclusion: The developed dressing may facilitate wound healing by deliveringcontrolled and stable oxygen levels, providing adjustable pH for optimized healing,and increasing intracellular ATP availability.

Nyckelord

hyperoxia

intracellular ATP

thermo sensitive

topical dressing

wound healing

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