METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING WOUNDS UTILIZING CHITOSAN COMPOUNDS
Described herein are methods of treating wounds, the method comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a soluble or derivatized chitosan wherein the soluble or derivatized chitosan when administered contacts the wound, thereby treating the wound.
1 . A method of treating a subject having a chronic disease or a symptom of thereof, the method comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a soluble or derivatized chitosan, wherein the derivatized chitosan comprises a chitosan of the following formula (I):
wherein:
n is an integer between 20 and 6000; and
each R 1 is independently selected for each occurrence from hydrogen, acetyl, and a group of formula (II):
or R 1 , when taken together with the nitrogen to which it is attached, forms a guanidine moiety,
wherein R 2 is hydrogen or amino; and
R 3 is amino, guanidino, C 1 -C 6 alkyl substituted with an amino or guanidino moiety, or a natural or unnatural amino acid side chain,
wherein at least 25% of R 1 substituents are H, at least 1% of R 1 substituents are acetyl, and at least 2% of R 1 substituents are a group of formula (II), and
wherein the molecular weight of the derivatized chitosan is between about 10,000 and 350,000 Da,
thereby treating the subject.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each R 1 is independently selected for each occurrence from a group of formula (II):
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the chronic disease is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has been treated or is being treated with a cancer therapy or an immunosuppressive therapy.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered to the subject prior to the cancer therapy or immunosuppressive therapy.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the symptom of a chronic disease comprises a wound.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the wound is a wound with poor or slow healing.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition decreases the magnitude or extent of scarring.
9 . A method of treating a wound in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a soluble or derivatized chitosan, wherein the derivatized chitosan comprises a chitosan of the following formula (I):
wherein:
n is an integer between 20 and 6000; and
each R 1 is independently selected for each occurrence from hydrogen, acetyl, and a group of formula (II):
or R 1 , when taken together with the nitrogen to which it is attached, forms a guanidine moiety,
wherein R 2 is hydrogen or amino; and
R 3 is amino, guanidino, C 1 -C 6 alkyl substituted with an amino or guanidino moiety, or a natural or unnatural amino acid side chain,
wherein at least 25% of R 1 substituents are H, at least 1% of R 1 substituents are acetyl, and at least 2% of R 1 substituents are a group of formula (I1), and
wherein the molecular weight of the derivatized chitosan is between about 10,000 and 350,000 Da,
thereby treating the subject.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each R 1 is independently selected for each occurrence from a group of formula (II):
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound is an acute wound or a chronic wound.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound is affects the skin, muscle, bone, or blood vessels.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound is a burn or an ulcer.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound is in the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, a mucosal membrane, or the eye.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound resulted from an infection.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wound is a wound with poor or slow healing.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition decreases the inflammation associated with the wound or healing of the wound.
18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition reduces the healing time or increases the healing rate of the wound.