SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COPPER OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR CUTANEOUS WOUND HEALING POTENTIAL

The remarkable financial burden and social impact due to impaired wound healing is forcing the research towards the development of newer drugs or formulations to accelerate the healing. In present study, effects of topical application of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were evaluated in cutaneous wound healing in rats. One square shaped open excision wound (approximately 400 mm2 ) was created on the back of fifteen rats and rats were equally divided into three groups viz. Group I, II and III. Ointment base, bulk CuO (0.3%) and CuO nanoparticles (0.3%) were topically applied on wounds of rats of group I, II and III, respectively for 15 days.The CuO nanoparticles treated group showed significant smaller wound area and increased per cent wound contraction on day 5, 10 and 15 post-wounding in comparison to control group. Histopathologically, wounds treated with CuO nanoparticles has decreased fibroblast number, decreased number of capillaries and compact collagen arranged in well-organized manner and orientation. The regeneration of epithelial layer covering more area of healing tissue was only evident in the CuO nanoparticles treated group. The overall wound maturity score was more evident in the CuO nanoparticles treated group as compared to other groups. In conclusion, topical application of CuO nanoparticles (0.3%) has pronounced healing potential than its bulk form and its applications may be extended to complicated wounds.