Recombinant type III humanized collagen gel accelerates full-thickness skin injury repair by remodeling the extracellular matrix.

This study systematically evaluated the mechanism and safety of recombinant type III humanized collagen gel (rhCol III gel) in tissue repair of full-thickness skin defects using an SD rat model. The experimental results demonstrated that topical application of rhCol III gel to dorsal skin wounds in rats significantly increased the wound healing rate. Further analysis revealed that rhCol III gel improved the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment and mediated an increase in the expression of various integrins. Through interaction with integrins, rhCol III gel transmitted extracellular signals into the cell via the ECM-receptor signaling pathway, positively regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. This led to upregulated expression of genes such as Fos, Nos3, and Tnc, ultimately inducing the regeneration of extracellular matrix components, including collagen type I and III, elastin, and fibronectin, thereby achieving ECM remodeling and skin wound repair. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, as well as analyses of routine blood tests, serum biochemical analysis, and coagulation function tests, showed no significant differences between the experimental and control groups. Therefore, rhCol III gel exhibits high efficacy in tissue repair and favorable in vivo safety, demonstrating a promising safe and effective treatment for skin injury repair.