The Healing Effect of Four Different Silver Complexes on Full-thickness Skin Burns in a Rat Model

Aim: This study was carried-out to investigate the effect of four different silver substances (S1, S2, S3, and S4) on burn wound healing in a rat model. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty Wistar rats were used. Animals were randomized into six groups to receive no treatment (CG, control group), and local application of the solvent of silver substances (SG, solvent group), as well as of the four silver substances (EG1-EG4 groups for substances S1-S4, respectively). On days 0, 3, 6, 12, 21, and 31 following burn wound infliction, the size and healing progress of each wound were recorded and evaluated by means of clinical evaluation, planimetry and histological examination. Results: According to our findings lower infection rates, as well as significantly accelerated wound healing and faster re-epithelialization were recorded in EG1, EG2, and EG4 compared to the other groups. Discussion: The use of S1, S2, and S4 substances proved to be an effective treatment of burn wounds that ensured better outcomes compared to the control and solvent groups, as well as with the use of S3 substance. Nevertheless, they failed to produce short-term healing of the full-thickness burn. Further research is required to examine the possibility of speeding the treatment of full-thickness burns by these complexes in order to reduce healing time to acceptable limits and prevent the need for surgery.