EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE APPLICATION OF ACELLULAR DERMAL MATRIX IN THE HEALING OF FULL-THICKNESS WOUNDS: COMBINED MORPHOLOGICAL AND THERMOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN PIGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1811-2471.2026.v.i2.16403Keywords:
аcellular dermal matrix, extracellular matrix scaffold, full-thickness wound model, wound healing, infrared thermography, granulation tissue, angiogenesis, bone tissueAbstract
SUMMARY. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a fundamental role in tissue regeneration by providing structural support and regulating cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation during wound healing. In full-thickness skin injuries, extensive destruction of the native ECM disrupts these processes and delays tissue repair. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has emerged as a promising biomaterial capable of reproducing the structural and functional characteristics of the native ECM and promoting regenerative processes in damaged tissues.
The aim – to evaluate the morphological and thermometric indicators of the effectiveness of acellular dermal matrix in the healing of full-thickness skin wounds using an experimental porcine model.
Material and Methods. Full-thickness skin wounds (5 × 5 cm) were created on the dorsal surface of a pig. Two experimental groups were formed: control wounds treated with non-adhesive dressings and wounds covered with ADM. The healing process was assessed on days 3, 7, 14, and 21. Histological examination of punch biopsy specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin was performed to evaluate inflammatory response, granulation tissue formation, and epithelialization. Infrared thermography was used to monitor temperature dynamics in the wound area.
Results. Histological analysis demonstrated that ADM application was associated with reduced neutrophilic inflammation, earlier fibroblast and vascular ingrowth, and more organized granulation tissue formation. By day 14, wounds treated with ADM showed advanced epithelialization with formation of a multilayered epithelium, whereas control wounds exhibited only partial epithelial coverage. By day 21, ADM-treated wounds demonstrated near-complete epithelialization and structural integration of the matrix within newly formed connective tissue. Thermographic analysis revealed phase-dependent temperature dynamics corresponding to different stages of wound healing and reflecting the modulatory effect of ADM on inflammatory activity and angiogenesis.
Conclusions. The use of acellular dermal matrix promotes more regulated wound healing by attenuating acute inflammation, facilitating angiogenesis, and accelerating epithelialization. Combined morphological and infrared thermographic assessment represents a valuable approach for monitoring wound healing dynamics and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of regenerative biomaterials.
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