Immobilizing Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase in Hydrogels of Carboxymethylcellulose Improves Its Stability and Wound Healing Properties

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A. Chiumiento¹, S. Lamponi¹, R. Barbucci^1*, A. Domínguez², Y. Pérez², and R. Villalonga²

¹CRISMA Department of Chemical and Biosystem Sciences and Technologies, University of Siena, Via A. Moro n. 2, Siena 53100, Italy; E-mail: barbucci@unisi.it

²Center for Enzyme Technology, University of Matanzas, Autopista a Varadero km 3 ½, Matanzas, C. P. 44740, Cuba; E-mail: reynaldo.villalonga@umcc.cu

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received February 1, 2006; Revision received March 11, 2006

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Hydrogels of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with 50 and 90% cross-linking degree (CMC50% and CMC90%, respectively) were prepared and loaded with bovine erythrocyte Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) to obtain two drug delivery systems: SOD-CMC50% and SOD-CMC90%. Resistance of native SOD to inactivation by H₂O₂ and the effect of applying SOD-CMC hydrogels to open wounds of rats' back skin were examined and compared to that of SOD trapped into CMC50% and CMC90% hydrogels. Also, the effect of CMC50% and SOD-CMC90% on human fibroblasts proliferation was evaluated at different times. It was found that SOD in the hydrogel was more resistant to H₂O₂ inactivation than the native enzyme and at the same time it reduced the time necessary for wound healing. Furthermore, the highest cell proliferation value was found for the CMC50% hydrogels, which had a three-dimensional structure suitable for gas and nutrient exchanges and improving cell life conditions.

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KEY WORDS: superoxide dismutase, hydrogel, cell proliferation, wound repair

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297906120066

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