VEGETABLE CELLULOSE NANOFIBER DRESSING AIDS IN THE HEALING PROCESS OF THIRD-DEGREE BURNS? STUDY ON RATS

BACKGROUND: The treatment of 3(rd) degree burns represents a major medical challenge. Pinus vegetable cellulose is a biomaterial with characteristic similar to bacterial cellulose. AIM: To evaluate the safety of cellulose membrane (Pinus sp) in the treatment of 3(rd) burns in rats and to compare its effectiveness with the bacterial membrane already on the market. METHOD: Thirty-three Wistar rats were beaten with a 3(rd) degree burn on back skin by applying water at 98º C for 30 s. Then, they were divided into three groups (n=11): group 1 - simple dressing with gauze; group 2 - dressing with bacterial cellulose membrane; and group 3 - dressing with vegetable cellulose membrane. The animals were maintained for 15 days to check the general clinical status, macroscopic aspect, contraction of the wounds and microscopic analysis for the degree of healing and collagenization. RESULTS: They were clinically well during the experiment. During the removal of the dressing, there was bleeding in the wound of the control group, unlike the groups treated with cellulose membranes, which protected the bed from injury. The macroscopic evaluation showed a greater contraction of the wounds treated with the membranes in relation to the control. A microscopic analysis revealed that most of the wounds were in advanced healing degree with predominance of mature collagen in all groups. CONCLUSION: Pinus sp cellulose membrane showed efficacy similar to that of the bacterial membrane in the treatment of 3(rd) degree burns.