Colostrum as an Efficient Treatment Modality in Burn Wound Healing

Abstract

Despite significant advancements in their management, burn wounds remain a major public health issue with increased mortality and morbidity. Standard treatments, although widely used, have been associated with toxic effects on keratinocytes and fibroblasts regeneration, impeding epithelialization and healing. This underscored the need for alternative pro-regenerative biomaterials. Colostrum, a pre-milk substance rich with immune and tissue-repairing factors, has been gaining interest due to its multiple regenerative effects, driving its exploration as a therapeutic approach in wound healing.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the topical application of Colostrum in promoting wound healing in an animal model of deep second-degree burn wounds.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley Rats (200–350 g) were subjected to deep second-degree burn wounds on the interscapular region using an 80° C aluminum stamp for 1 minute. Animals were divided into four groups: 1) untreated burn, 2) 1% silver sulfadiazine treated, 3) Colostrum-treated, and 4) Shams (non-burned). Treatments were topically applied once daily. At days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28, wound closure and trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured. Rats were sacrificed at each time point for tissue collection for histological and molecular analysis. Skin histopathological evaluation and mast cell infiltration were assessed using routine histology, and Interleukin (IL)-1α expression was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Results: Colostrum-treated animals had earlier crust formation (4.3 ± 0.9 days) compared to those treated with Flamazine (4.7 ± 0.6 days), and to untreated animals (5.4 ± 0.9, p=0.0003), and significantly earlier crust detachment (15.2 ± 1.0) compared to the Flamazine (17.3 ± 2.4) or untreated groups at (17.5 ± 0.8, p=0.031). Colostrum resulted in higher wound closure rates with an average of 89% at day 28, compared to 71% (non-treated) and 74% (Flamazine). Compared to the non-treated and the Flamazine-treated group, TEWL was reduced at all timepoints in animals treated with Colostrum (p<0.05). At the histological level, epidermal re-epithelialization was depicted at day 3 in the Colostrum group, day 7 in the Flamazine-treated group, and day 21 in the non-treated group. At day 28, histological scores were significantly improved in the Colostrum group compared to the Flamazine group (6.3±0.95 vs. 5.0±0.63, p=0.017). At the level of the dermis, both Colostrum and Flamazine-treated groups exhibited fibroblast formation, collagen deposition, and hair follicle formation with significantly improved scores in the Colostrum versus Flamazine group at day 28 (6.5±0.5 vs. 5.7±0.75, p=0.048). Mast cell infiltration increased in all burned groups (p<0.005 vs. sham). During the early pro-inflammatory phase (days 1–3), decreased mast cells were observed in the non-treated and Flamazine-treated groups, reaching a peak at day 7 (proliferative phase). However, an opposite trend was depicted in the Colostrum-treated animals, with a significant increase in mast cell number at day 3, followed by a decrease at day 7 (p<0.001 vs. Flamazine and untreated). By day 28, a mast cell count stabilized across groups, with values approaching those of the shams. IL1-α expression in the colostrum-treated animals adapted a physiological trend, with a significant increase at day 28 in the Flamazine-treated group.

Conclusion: Topical application of Colostrum is superior in treating deep partial thickness burns in rats with faster healing and less scar formation, outperforming standard Flamazine treatment. Findings from this study pave the way for further clinical evaluation of colostrum, aiding in the management of burn wounds.