ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effect of mupirocin topical spray on burn wound healing in a rat model. Fifteen male Sprague
Dawley rats were used to create full-thickness burns on the rat dorsum using a cylindrical stainless steel rod. The rats
were topically treated with normal saline solution (NSS), mupirocin spray, ointment, and solution. The wound size and
morphological evaluation were investigated by photographs and clinical criterions for wound healing. The histology was
observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HandE) staining assay. The immunohistochemical study was evaluated by detection
of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase-9 to the tissue inhibitor of
matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-9/TIMP-1) was quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
assay. A complete healing was observed at 28 days in all treatments. Mupirocin formulations accelerated the wound
healing faster than NSS in size. However, the clinical criteria indicated a desirable skin appearance in the mupirocin
spray and ointment treated groups. The histological evaluations showed no differences between the treatments while the
immunohistochemical study revealed that all treatments reduced the level of TGF-β1 over time, particularly on day 28 in
the mupirocin spray and ointment treated groups. The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was significantly lower in the mupirocin
spray and ointment treated groups than in the NSS and mupirocin solution groups. This study shows the safety and
efficacy in the use of mupirocin topical spray. The topical mupirocin spray is an alternative suitable for development as a
human topical anti-infective and wound protection spray.
