COPPER NANOPARTICLE-INCORPORATED PLATELET RICH PLASMA (CUNP-PRP)FOR WOUND HEALING IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC WOUNDS: A PROSPECTIVE INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background:  Chronic and infected wounds remain a major clinical challenge because of delayed healing, microbial resistance, and impaired tissue regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma  (PRP) promotes regeneration  through concentrated  growth  factors  but   has   limited  intrinsic  antimicrobial  action,  whereas  copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) possess strong antimicrobial and pro-angiogenic properties. We hypothesised that a copper nanoparticle incorporated PRP (CuNP-PRP)nanocomposite would combine both e fects. Methods: This prospective interventional study enrolled patients with acute and chronic wounds at the Department of General   Surgery,  Saveetha  Medical  College   and  Hospital.  Copper   nanoparticles were synthesised by chemical reduction and combined with autologous PRP prepared by double centrifugation. Twenty patients completed the 8-week treatment and follow-up protocol. Wound healing was assessed by serial measurement of wound area; antimicrobial activity was tested in vitro by zone-of-inhibition assay against common wound pathogens; and cytotoxicity/biocompatibility were assessed on 3T3- L1 fibroblasts by MTT assay and phase contrast morphology. Results:  The CuNP-PRP formulation  showed  broad-spectrum   antimicrobial  activity,  greatest   against Staphylococcus aureus (zone of inhibition 17.4± 2.1mm). Meanwound size fellfrom 6.46± 2.17cm2at baseline to 0.9 ± 0.31 cm2 at week 8 (86.1% reduction; paired t-test, p<0.001). Complete healing occurred in 60% of patients, with improvement in all cases and no non-healing wounds; healing did not di fer significantly by wound aetiology (χ2test, p=0.61). The formulationwaswelltolerated (85% no adverse efects)with high patient satisfaction (90.5% satisfied or highly satisfied). CuO nanoparticles showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity on fibroblasts, with >90% viability at 25–100µL/mL and significant decline at ≥200µL/mL (p<0.05). Conclusion: CuNP-PRP demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, accelerated wound closure, and good biocompatibility at appropriate doses, supporting   its potential as a cost-effective adjunct for wound management, particularly in resource-limited settings. Larger randomised controlled trials with a comparator arm are warranted.