Influence of hyaluronic acid on wound healing using composite porcine acellular dermal matrix grafts and autologous skin in rabbits

This study aims to explore the influence of hyaluronic acid (HA) on wound healing during xenogeneic porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM) composite skin grafting. The results will facilitate the development of methods for improving graft contracture and poor elasticity of composite transplantation. Exogenous HA was added to composite PADM grafts and to thin autologous skin grafts during rabbit full-thickness skin wound repair. The influence of HA on wound healing was evaluated according to its contracture rate and its expression of collagen types I and III. The possible mechanism was then explored based on HA metabolism and vascularisation in the skin graft. The results show that exogenous HA relieves graft contracture on rabbit wound surfaces, increases collagen I and III expression and decreases the ratio between collagen types. HA stimulates the generation of more CD44 receptors to strengthen its enzymolysis. The resulting metabolites promote the vascularisation of the wound surface, which are conducive for mitigating graft contracture, and further improve the composite grafting effect.