Effects of a topically applied wound ointment on epidermal wound healing studied by in vivo fluorescence laser scanning microscopy analysis

Epidermal wound healing is a complex and dy- namic regenerative process necessary to reestablish skin integrity. Fluorescence confocal laser scanning micros- copy FLSM is a noninvasive imaging technique that has previously been used for evaluation of inflammatory and neoplastic skin disorders in vivo and at high resolution. We employed FLSM to investigate the evolution of epider- mal wound healing noninvasively over time and in vivo. Two suction blisters were induced on the volar forearms of the study participants, followed by removal of the epider- mis. To study the impact of wound ointment on the pro- cess of reepithelization, test sites were divided into two groups, of which one test site was left untreated as a nega- tive control. FLSM was used for serial/consecutive evalu- ations up to 8 days. FLSM was able to visualize the devel- opment of thin keratinocyte layers developing near the wound edge and around hair follicles until the entire epi- dermis has been reestablished. Wounds treated with the wound ointment were found to heal significantly faster than untreated wounds. This technique allows monitoring of the kinetics of wound healing noninvasively and over time, while offering new insights into the potential effects of topically applied drugs on the process of tissue repair. ©