Background: the impairment of wound healing in the diabetic patients is an important clinical problem affecting millions of patients worldwide. This significant health care problem still lacks effective therapy. The ideal wound dressing is resistant to external forces and pathogens. It reduces patient discomfort and achieves good cosmetic results. Aim of the work: this study aimed to compare the effect of silver nanoparticlesversus silver sulfadiazine on diabetic wound healing in the adult albino rat. Material and Methods: twenty adult female albino rats were included in this study. The animals were categorized into four groups, 5 rats each: group I (control). Group II (untreated diabetic wound): diabetic rats that left untreated for 15 days of wound excision. GroupIII: diabetic rats in which silver sulfadiazine cream was applied on the wound daily for 15 days after thin skin excision. GroupIV: diabetic rats in which nanosilver-ointment was applied on the wound daily for 15 days after thin skin excision. At the end of the experiment, the specimens were taken and processed for histologicaland immunohistochemical studies. Morphometric and statistical studies were carried out. Results: examination of thin skin sections of nanosilver treated group revealed continuous epidermis with differentiated keratinocytes with proliferating basal layer. The dermis showed increased collagen deposition, decreased p53 and increased VEGF expression compared to SSD treated group.
Conclusion: silver nanoparticlescould be more effective than silver sulfadiazine in treatment of the diabetic wound.