Chlorite-Oxidized Oxyamylose (COAM) Has Antibacterial Activity and Positively Affects Skin Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To verify the antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects of the amylose derivative – chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose (COAM) – in a skin wound setting. METHODS: In vitro antibacterial effects of COAM against opportunistic bacterial pathogens common to skin wounds, including Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were determined by cultivation methods. The effects of COAM on myeloid cell infiltration into full thickness skin wounds were investigated in wild-type and in transgenic CX(3)CR1-GFP mice. RESULTS: On the basis of in vitro experiments, an antibacterial effect of COAM against Staphylococcus species including MRSA was confirmed. The minimum inhibitory concentration of COAM was determined as 2000 µg/mL against these bacterial strains. Control full thickness skin wounds yielded maximal neutrophil influxes and no additive effect on neutrophil influx was observed following topical COAM-treatment. However, COAM administration increased local CX(3)CR1 macrophage counts at days 3 and 4 and induced a trend towards better wound healing. CONCLUSION: Aside from its known broad antiviral impact, COAM possesses in vitro antibacterial effects specifically against Gram-positive opportunistic pathogens of the skin and modulates in vivo macrophage contents in mouse skin wounds.