Towards a standardized diabetic prolonged wound healing model in hairless SKH1 mice

Abstract

<p>Chronic wounds, particularly those associated with diabetes, pose a significant clinical challenge due to their impaired healing dynamics and lack of reliable and standardized preclinical models. This pilot study aimed to establish a diabetogenic, immunocompetent, hairless mouse model (SKH1 strain) to simulate prolonged wound healing. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin administration, followed by the creation of full-thickness dorsal skin wounds. Wounds were treated with either saline or nanofibrillated cellulose hydrogel as a model treatment. Wound healing progression and blood glucose were monitored, and histopathological assessments were performed after a 14-day experiment. In addition, for the first time, the Thermidas thermal imaging system was used in an <em>in vivo</em> mouse model to evaluate skin temperature. Results demonstrated that diabetes induction successfully prolonged wound closure by 5 days compared with the previously described acute wound model in the same strain with the identical protocol without streptozotocin (STZ) induction. Histopathological analyses showed increased macrophage activity (16.2% vs. 2.2% in the treatment groups and 10.2% vs. 0.3% in the control groups) and decreased collagen deposition (12.2% vs. 43.2% in the treatment groups and 17.6% vs. 27.4% in the control groups), suggesting prolonged wound healing. These findings support the use of hairless SKH1 mice as a viable model for studying prolonged diabetic wound healing and evaluating future therapeutic candidates.<br></p>