Quantified Wound Healing Dynamics Stimulated By Therapeutic Oat Bioactives

Introduction: Our previous studies have shown that oat-derived bioactives avenanthramide (AVE) and beta-glucan (βG) stimulate endothelial proliferation in vitro, angiogenesis and endothelial progenitor cell phenotypes in vivo, and facilitate wound closure in animals.1,2 Conventional wound healing metrics assess time to complete wound closure but are unable to adequately address speed of healing. This analysis characterizes wound healing dynamics (velocity, acceleration) of AVE and βG treated wounds. Methods: AVE and βG bioactives* from Avena sativa oat plant were solubilized (0.10%, 0.50%, 1%) in buffer. Dorsal full-thickness excisional wounds were made on C57BL/6 mice and bioactives injected subcutaneously to the wound peripheral every two days. Surface area planimetry was assessed using digital photographs on post-operative days. Wound healing velocity (Δwound area/time) was calculated by linear regression as the slope between time points.3 Acceleration was determined as a higher order quadratic approximation, with steepness of the curve as a numeric reflection of acceleration.3 Results:Both AVE and βG resulted in greater healing velocity compared to control, with different temporal dynamics. 1% AVE resulted in the highest maximum velocity (21.7), compared to that of control (11.7) and had a higher acceleration (1.76) compared to control (-0.28) on the run up to maximum velocity. Both 1% and 0.1% βG resulted in comparable maximum velocities (21.4 and 21.3, respectively) but with acceleration for 1% βG greater than for 0.1% βG which was greater than for control on the run-up to maximum velocity (2.0 vs 1.2 vs 0.44, respectively).Discussion: In addition to facilitating earlier complete wound closure, AVE and βG speeds healing during tissue repair, as demonstrated by quantitative assessment of wound healing velocity and acceleration. Differences exist in wound healing dynamics between the therapeutic bioactives. Frequency of complete wound closure, wound healing velocity and wound healing acceleration are all important, separable measures of wound healing dynamics that can be applied to help assess and compare emerging wound healing technologies. References:1. Li VW, et al., Curr Dev Nutr 2023;7(S1):100561 2. Kussie, H, et al Adv. Wound Care 2024;13(4):155-166 3. Li, VW, et al., J Am Acad Dermatol, 2005;52(3):P212